HC Deb 26 July 1960 vol 627 cc1280-1
23. Mr. Lawson

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will arrange for the Industrial Estates Management Corporation for Scotland to take over from the Admiralty the group of industrial buildings at Carfin, Lanarkshire, with a view to the letting of these buildings in whole or in part for manufacturing purposes.

Mr. Maudling

No, Sir. The storage depot was inspected by Scottish Industrial Estates Limited and it was not considered suitable for industrial purposes without substantial modification.

Mr. Lawson

Will the President of the Board of Trade correct this use of the term "storage depôt"? Is he aware that he has already been wrongly informed about the occupancy of this depot? Will he take it from me that he has been wrongly informed about the industrial potential of these excellent industrial buildings? In view of the fact that he has been wrongly informed about this place, will he undertake to see that there is a proper inspection of the industrial potential to see what can be done about this area?

Mr. Maudling

I must admit that I was wrong in telling the hon. Member that this building was being used for whisky storage. It is being used for storage, but not for the storage of whisky. The fact is that the building was erected for use as a store and has been used as a store ewer since. That is a different thing from an industrial building.