§ 21. Mr. Jayasked the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of total new factory space approved was in the London and south-east region in 1958 and 1959, respectively; and whether he will give this figure for the successive three-monthly periods of 1959.
§ Mr. J. RodgersFor schemes of over 5,000 sq. ft., 21 per cent. in 1958 and 17.6 per cent. in 1959; similar figures for the successive quarters of 1959 were 16 per cent., 18.8 per cent., 22.2 per cent. and 13.7 per cent.
§ Mr. JayIs this not rather slow progress, after the promises we have had from the Parliamentary Secretary? Can he promise us that this contraction will go more quickly in future?
§ Mr. RodgersThe right hon. Gentleman ought, I think, to bear in mind not so much the square footage of new factory building as the number of jobs created. A great deal of the square footage to which he refers relates to warehouse space or the rebuilding of existing premises in order to improve the efficiency or productivity of the undertakings.
§ Mr. RodgersThe new employment relating to these schemes was estimated at 16.4 per cent. of the Great Britain total in 1958 and 13.9 per cent. in 1959.