§ 14. Mr. McMasterasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will supply details of the inducements offered to encourage new industry to come to Northern Ireland to every firm which replies to the letter sent out by his Department on 31st March to 47,000 manufacturing establishments relating to prospects for industrial expansion in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. MaudlingNo, Sir. As my hon. Friend said on 14th April, the Northern Ireland Government circularised these firms about a year ago giving them the information in question.
§ Mr. McMasterWhile thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]—may I ask whether he is not aware that conditions have changed here a great deal in the past year, particularly with the passing of the Local Employment Act, and that there is a great deal of concern in Northern Ireland at the very high rate of unemployment there? Will not my right hon. Friend again consider this matter and particularly the fact that all that is requested is that firms which reply to the circular should be informed of the facilities which are available in Northern Ireland? I ask this particularly in view of the assurance which my right hon. Friend gave me during the debate in the House on the Local Employment Act.
§ Mr. MaudlingI think that we have a subsequent Question on the Order Paper on Northern Ireland, but on the question of providing information about the Northern Ireland Government's own schemes, I think it is probably better to leave that to them; and they have already made this information available.
§ Mrs. BraddockIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that people in Northern Ireland will be very pleased that some pressure is being applied by representatives of Northern Ireland following my visit and my speech there? Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether, in connection with any inducements that may be offered to get new employment into Northern Ireland, the question of the excessive transport charges for the removal of goods produced there will be looked at in order to find out whether anything can be done about them?
§ Mr. MaudlingI am sure that Northern Ireland will welcome another doughty champion in these matters. As for inducements provided to firms going into Northern Ireland, that is a matter for the Northern Ireland Government and not for me.
§ 15. Mr. McMasterasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will bring to the attention of every firm which is refused an industrial development certificate under the provisions of the Local Employment Act the facilities made available to new and expanding industries in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. MaudlingYes, Sir. We will endeavour to do so.
§ Mr. McMasterWhile thanking my right hon. Friend for his reply, may I ask him whether he will also consider the position of these 47,000 firms? Is he aware that we are not satisfied that circulars sent out a year ago by the Department of Commerce in Northern Ireland are sufficient to draw the attention of these firms to the excellent facilities which are available in Northern Ireland? May I ask my right hon. Friend to consider again the position of these 47,000 firms, because the conditions in England have entirely altered since the original circular was sent out by the Department of Commerce in Belfast?
§ Mr. MaudlingThis question is a little different from that of providing details of the Northern Ireland Government's own scheme. The Board of Trade always calls attention to the possibilities of Northern Ireland, and recently we have made new arrangements whereby when firms wishing to expand give permission we also give their names and details to the Ministry of Commerce in Northern Ireland. Therefore, I think that the liaison between us is good on these matters.