§ 12. Commander Keransasked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development how many applications to establish industry in The Hartlepools have been made since 1st August.
§ Mr. HeathTwo firms have applied to set up in The Hartlepools since 1st August. One of them was recently given an industrial development certificate; the other applied a few days ago for a factory to be built for them and this is under examination.
§ Commander KeransI am grateful to my right hon. Friend for that Answer. Will he do what he can to speed up applications when they go through B.O.T.A.C?
§ 13. Commander Keransasked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what further measures he intends to take to reduce the 7.9 per cent. figure of unemployment in The Hartlepools.
§ Mr. HeathI am continuing to use my full powers under the Local Employment Acts to encourage increased industrial development in The Hartlepools.
§ Commander KeransWill not my right hon. Friend agree that to put the Tees-side industrial estate on the south bank does not help my constituency, certainly not in the immediate future, for it means that workers have to travel considerable distances to the new area of employment? Will he do something to establish industry on the north bank of the Tees?
§ Mr. HeathObviously, the judgment about the new estate was made on considerations of the growth area as a whole. At the same time, important activities have been taking place in my hon. Friend's constituency. As he knows, two factories will soon be completed by 548 my Department for tenants who are already known. In addition, since August some 18 firms have been taken to see buildings and sites in The Hartlepools and we hope that these may result in more employment for my hon. Friend's constituents. We still await the decisions of a number of them.