§ 8. Mr. Dempseyasked the President of the Board of Trade when he intends to complete the undeveloped portions of the Coatbridge and Newhouse Industrial Estates; and how many jobs will be provided.
§ Mr. D. PriceAn advance factory and two extensions for existing tenants are being built at Newhouse; these projects should provide about 400 jobs. Further 215 development of the Coatbridge Industrial Estate depends on the outcome of an application by an industrial firm now under consideration.
§ Mr. DempseyDoes not the Parliamentary Secretary realise that to leave a portion of an industrial estate lying vacant, especially after providing the services, is an uneconomic proposition? Will he try to expedite the completion of these estates by building new factories to provide additional employment for the area?
§ Mr. PriceThe bon. Gentleman will know that what is much more important than getting on with building factories is getting tenants for them when they are built. In our view, the programme that we are at present carrying out on the Coatbridge Industrial Estate is meeting the immediate needs of industry. We shall be only too willing to undertake further development there when there is some evidence that firms want to go there.
§ Mr. J. T. PriceDoes the hon. Gentleman realise the implications of what he is saying? We constantly have reference to the desperate efforts which the Government are making to provide new jobs and new avenues of employment after they have been in power for twelve years and have told us that nationalisation was a gross failure and that private enterprise would do the job. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] Certainly. Does not this prove beyond doubt that the industrial system is breaking down and is failing to provide more jobs?
§ Mr. SpeakerThat is not a question. It is an argument and a speech.