HC Deb 06 December 1960 vol 631 c1054
30. Mr. Grey

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the future of Alfred Graham, Limited, Industrial Estate, Spennymoor, having regard to the fact that the area is a development district under the Local Employment Act, 1960.

Mr. N. Macpherson

This firm is the tenant of the Industrial Estates Management Corporation at Spennymoor. It is for the firm itself, not the Board of Trade, to make statements about its future plans.

Mr. Grey

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware of the concern felt in Spennymoor about this factory? It must be appreciated that Spennymoor itself is a development district and this factory came there a little less than twelve months ago. Key workers were allowed thirteen houses by the local authority, for which the authority got no subsidy whatever. Will the hon. Gentleman make a statement to the effect that he would deprecate any movement of this factory because, if it is allowed to be moved, that would make a complete mockery of the Local Employment Act, 1960?

Mr. Macpherson

I know of no suggestion that this firm is moving from Spennymoor.