HC Deb 19 February 1963 vol 672 cc227-8
33. Mr. Bottomley

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he proposes to take to improve facilities for grants for clearing derelict buildings and sites.

Mr. Price

My right hon. Friend will continue to use his powers under the Local Employment Act to assist in the clearance of derelict, neglected or unsightly land where this will further the purpose of the Act to provide employment for the benefit of development districts. He has no reason to believe that the facilities for grant provided by the Act are inadequate for that purpose.

Mr. Bottomley

Bearing in mind the persistent unemployment on Tees-side, will the hon. Gentleman consider giving Middlesbrough the same facilities as those areas scheduled under the Local Employment Act?

Mr. Price

The right hon. Gentleman is going a little further than his original Question. There is a Question a little later which bluntly asks that Tees-side be scheduled.

Mr. Popplewell

Will the Board of Trade consider giving assistance for the clearing up of the banks of the Tyne between Newcastle and the coast? Will he initiate talks with representatives of the North-East to see what can be done to provide work and make the approaches worthy of the river?

Mr. Price

I will be happy to look into that.

Mr. Jeger

Will the hon. Gentleman make representations to the Minister of Housing and Local Government to see that local authorities are informed of the help they can get from the Government for this work?

Mr. Price

I do not accept, without investigation, the implications of that question, but I will discuss this with my right hon. Friend's Department to make sure that these facilities are made known to all local authorities concerned.