§ 20. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the President of the Board of Trade the name of the factory project in Peterhead to which he recently gave his approval; the name of the Government-financed factory in Aberdeen whose extension he recently approved; how many men and women. 607 respectively, are employed at each factory; and how many it is expected will be employed when the factories are completed and in working order.
§ Sir D. EcclesThos. Smith & Co. (Peterhead) Ltd., which employs 40 men and 82 women, expects to employ a further 10 men and 40 women when its new factory is completed. The Government-financed factory is at Peterhead, not Aberdeen, and is leased to the Cleveland Twist Drill Co., which employs 183 men and 53 women and expects to employ a further 175 men and 75 women when the extension is built.
§ Mr. HughesMay I thank the President of the Board of Trade for that Answer, but will he say whether, in giving his approval in cases such as these two, he takes into account the grave unemployment in the particular area? Did he take it into account in this case? What effect does he expect that the approval will have on the serious unemployment in that region?
§ Sir D. EcclesI should welcome any new industry in this area.