§ 68. Dr. Kingasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the unemployment in South Hampshire, he 555 will urge the Caltex Company to reconsider its decision to postpone the refinery project for which he has granted an industrial certificate.
§ Sir D. EcclesNo, Sir. The decision must rest with the company.
§ Dr. KingIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that 17,250 trade unionists in south-east Hampshire have recently signed a petition urging the Government to do all they can to bring the Caltex refinery proposals into operation? Is he aware that they would mean work for 1,500 constructional and building workers for two years and thereafter work for 400 workers in permanence? Will the right hon. Gentleman use his influence with the Caltex Company to bring this refinery to a place in Hampshire which is badly in need of work of all kinds?
§ Sir D. EcclesI am aware that this is a very large project but, as the Company has said:
After re-examining its refinery capacity requirements, the company is unable to announce … a definite date for construction of the proposed refinery.It may be that these requirements will change.