§ 20. Mr. Chetwyndasked the President of the Board of Trade what applications have been received in the past year for the tenancies of the empty Government-financed factories on the North Tees Trading Estate, Stockton-on-Tees; and how many factories are now empty.
§ Mr. J. RodgersTwo applications were received during the past year. One 615 of these was withdrawn and the other resulted in a new lease. There is at prsent empty one factory and a small partitioned area in another factory which is suitable only for storage.
§ Mr. ChetwyndWill the hon. Gentleman now consider allowing the other factory, which I understand withdrew its application, to have the extension which it so greatly needs?
§ Mr. RodgersI will certainly look into that point.
§ 21. Mr. Chetwyndasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give financial assistance to enable a firm in Stockton-on-Tees, which has had to close, to be kept on a care and maintenance basis until a revival of trade enables it to go into production again.
§ Mr. J. RodgersNo, Sir. My right hon. Friend has no power to do this.
§ Mr. ChetwyndIn view of the fact that we are likely to lose this firm permanently unless it can be kept on a care and maintenance basis, would the hon. Gentleman ask his right hon. Friend to seek powers to enable him to do this?
§ Mr. RodgersI have every sympathy with the hon. Gentleman in his problem, but I am afraid that we have no powers to do so, and we cannot seek special powers for this one case.