§ 1. Dr. Dickson Mabonasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give further consideration to the need for an advance factory being constructed within the burgh of Greenock; and if he will make a statement.
§ The President of the Board of Trade (Mr. F. J. Erroll)No, Sir. The claims of the burgh of Greenock have been given very careful consideration, but for the present I am not prepared to go beyond the eleven Scottish advance factories announced since last June.
§ Dr. MabonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that that is a very disappointing answer, especially having regard to the fact that today's total of unemployment is the highest since the war, which is very sad for a town like this? Has the right hon. Gentleman considered how he will bring to the town or the area ancillary industries to feed 1414 the Rootes development which we hope will come into full swing in the spring of next year? Can he give us some hope in that direction?
§ Mr. ErrollThat supplementary question goes a good deal wider than the original Question. The facilities of the Local Employment Act wild be used to encourage firms which wish to set up component manufacture in Scotland, and our refusal to grant industrial development certificates in the congested areas of the Midlands will prevent the expansion of component manufacturers taking place in those areas.