§ 19. Mr. Willeyasked the President of the Board of Trade why the project in Sunderland, for which assistance had been approved in June, 1961, but which was in abeyance in March, 1962, is now still under consideration.
§ Mr. N. MacphersonBecause the company concerned substantially altered its plans.
§ Mr. WilleyThe hon. Gentleman will realise that this is disappointing to us. Can he assure the House that every step will be taken to expedite the consideration of this and ensure that the project is started?
§ Mr. MacphersonYes. It is a matter for the company in the first place to formulate its plans.
§ 20. Mr. Willeyasked the President of the Board of Trade how much land administered by the Industrial Estates 265 Management Corporation in Sunderland is available for further factory development.
§ Mr. N. MacphersonThe Board of Trade is holding between three and four acres of Government-owned industrial land against development by existing tenants in Sunderland.
§ Mr. WilleyDoes the hon. Gentleman realise that one of the biggest handicaps we have in Sunderland is a shortage of attractive industrial estates? Will he therefore look at this with a view to reconsidering his decision not to put us on the list of development districts?
§ Mr. MacphersonI do not think that this is a factor involved in our decision not to have Sunderland on the development district list.
§ Mr. WilleyDoes the hon. Gentleman agree that there is a very real difficulty in providing attractive industrial estates without Government assistance?
§ Mr. MacphersonNo. Our experience is that many boroughs have been able to provide adequate industrial estates and are doing so all the time.