HC Deb 03 July 1962 vol 662 cc266-7
22. Mr. Hannan

asked the President of the Board of Trade what legislative or other proposals he has for ensuring control of the disposal of empty factories.

Mr. N. Macpherson

My right hon. Friend has no powers to control the disposal of privately-owned factories. However, a register of available empty factories in development districts is kept at Board of Trade Headquarters and in the Board's Regional Offices, and this is shown to industrialists looking for industrial premises.

Mr. Hannan

Without such provisions. how does the Board of Trade propose to convince Parliament and the people of Scotland and elsewhere that it is serious in its intentions about the location of industry? Does it propose to continue the present practice that when factories are vacated in London and in the Midlands they are immediately filled up again, instead of the Board of Trade having control of the empty factories and in that way hoping to channel industry to places such as Scotland and the north-east of England?

Mr. Macpherson

I am not certain why the hon. Gentleman wants the Board of Trade to have control. If it is in order to change the use, that would involve a lower value for the factory and would not be an encouragement to industries to move to development districts.