§ 37 and 38. Mr. Willeyasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he will now proceed with the development 998 of the proposed trading estate on the north bank of the Wear at Sunderland;
(2) whether he will authorise the construction of an advance factory at Sunderland.
§ Mr. J. RodgersNo, Sir. As my right hon. Friend said on 29th January in answer to the right hon. Member for Battersea, North (Mr. Jay), the Board of Trade is at present only prepared to build new factories in Dundee, Greenock, North Lanarkshire, West South Wales and North East Lancashire, where the need is greater.
§ Mr. WilleyIs not the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the Question is about a trading estate? Is he aware that a considerable time ago a survey was held and plans prepared for this trading estate and everyone in Sunderland believes that the time has come for a beginning to be made on this project?
§ Mr. RodgersPerhaps the hon. Gentleman overlooks the fact that at present there are about 28 empty Board of Trade factories in Development Areas and that 14 of these are in the North-East Development Area—and, although I admit that this does not include Sunderland, there is at Jarrow an empty factory with a capacity of over 100,000 square feet.
§ Mr. WilleyWill the Parliamentary Secretary take more energetic action to get tenants for these empty factories? At the same time, will he realise that we in Sunderland want the trading estate now?
§ Mr. RodgersI will certainly take what energetic steps I can.
§ 39. Mr. Willeyasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will add Sunderland to the list of places where Government assistance under the Distribution of Industry (Industrial Finance) Act, 1958, will be available.
§ Mr. J. RodgersAt the recent revision of the list, Sunderland did not qualify for inclusion; but my right hon. Friend will certainly watch the position closely and will be prepared to add Sunderland should the level of unemployment unfortunately justify it.
Mr. WileyIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware that unemployment in 999 Sunderland is already running at over 5,000 and that we do not want him to watch anything any longer, but to do something? Is not it time that at least he took this step to show he is in earnest about the deteriorating unemployment situation in Sunderland?
§ Mr. RodgersPerhaps it will give the hon. Gentleman some comfort if I say that additional employment which is likely to accrue in Sunderland from projects which have been approved but not yet completed will provide 1,152 jobs and that, naturally, we should like to see further development of projects there.
§ Mr. WilleyAs I should welcome some action from the Government, I beg to give notice that at the earliest possible opportunity I shall endeavour to raise this matter on the Adjournment.