HC Deb 26 July 1960 vol 627 cc1274-5
15. Mr. Shinwell

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the has any statement to make on the provision of new industries in the new town of Peterlee and adjoining districts.

Mr. Maudling

As I told the right hon. Member on 284th April, the Board of Trade will continue to bring the advantages of Peterlee, including the industrial sites available, to the attention of firms seeking a new location. As Peterlee is in a development district, the inducements provided by the Local Employment Act should be a further encouragement to industry to go to the locality.

Mr. Shinwell

Is the President of the Board of Trade aware that this town has now been in existence for more than ten years, and that the total amount of employed female labour is no more than 600 persons? If he cannot direct industry to come to Peterlee and the adjoining area, where there is great danger of mining redundancy, will he at least provide facilities for the existing firms, which are anxious to expand in order to enter the export trade? Will he make some inquiry into that aspect?

Mr. Maudling

All the facilities under the Local Employment Act are available. On 26th January, my 'hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary said that a new factory under construction should provide 140 additional jobs, rising to 350. Other developments within travel-to-work distance were expected to provide 3,000 more jobs, and that estimate certainly stands.