50. Mr. Garner-Evansasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can yet state the outcome of the negotiations undertaken by his Department about the setting up of a large factory in west South Wales.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade (Mr. F. J. Erroll)Yes, Sir. I am glad to be able to announce that arrangements between the Board of Trade and Pressed Steel Company of Cowley, Oxford, have now been concluded by which the Government will provide them with a large factory at Swansea where the company proposes to manufacture refrigerators.
The company estimates that it will employ in this factory some 2,000 workers within eighteen months of the date of occupation and build up progressively over the ensuing four to five years to a labour force of around 4,000.
Mr. Garner-EvansIs my hon. Friend aware that this will give enormous satisfaction to all Welsh hon. Members on both sides of the House? Can he give us an assurance that he will apply the same pattern of procedure to the problems of unemployment in North Wales?
§ Mr. ErrollNaturally the Board of Trade is glad that these arrangements have been concluded, but I should like to emphasise that this is only part of the normal work on which the Board of Trade is continuously engaged.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsWhile we welcome this announcement, may we be assured that the Board of Trade will continue its efforts in north West Wales and other parts of the Principality?
§ Mr. Ellis SmithAnd in Stoke-on-Trent.
§ Mr. HoyIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the Answer to this Question appeared on the tape at ten past one today and that the Department was careful to point out that it had no connection with the strip steel mill? May we take it, therefore, that Scotland's prospect of having this mill is very much better than it was?
§ Mr. ErrollThe hon. Member should not draw any such conclusion from this announcement.