HC Deb 05 December 1963 vol 685 cc1346-7
19. Mr. J. Griffiths

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development the number and location of the Government-owned industrial premises in Wales which are at present unused, or only partly used; and what is the estimated number of additional workers who would be employed if these premises were used to their full capacity.

Mr. Heath

Eight factories owned by the Board of Trade in Wales and Monmouth are empty or are at present partly used and will shortly become empty. They are at Ammanford, Bridgend, Llanelly, Pengam, Treforest and Wrexham and two at Dinas. Together these factories when re-let should provide rather more than a thousand jobs.

Mr. Griffiths

May I ask what steps the Secretary of State is taking to ensure that these factories, which were built with public money, are used? If he cannot attract industrialists to the area, will he consider whether the factories could be used by Remploy, as there are over 500 disabled men in that area who are able to do work?

Mr. Heath

Four of these factories are in development districts and they have all the inducements to industrialists to go there. The Industrial Estate Management Corporation for Wales will continue to do its best to interest industrialists in these factories and induce them to go there. I will consider the point about Remploy which the right hon. Gentleman has raised and discuss it with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour.