§ 4. Mr. Boydenasked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science, as representing the Lord President of the Council, if he will publish a report on the building work expected to be completed in the North-East in 1963 and 1964 as a result of the recommendations of the Lord President of the Council.
§ Mr. Denzil FreethThe decisions which the Government have taken to assist the North-East and developments undertaken by private industry as a result of the new and increased benefits available in development districts will involve a great deal of building work in the region. But my noble Friend is not prepared to forecast how much of it will be completed in any one year.
§ Mr. BoydenSurely it is desirable to be more precise than this. Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that unemployment in the building industry in the North-East has been one of the more serious problems in the area? Why cannot he give some indication of what is likely to happen in the public sector so that at least the area shall know how matters will progress?
§ Mr. FreethI think that the programme of building twelve advance factories, a Crown building at Stockton-on-Tees for the staff of the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance, and a building in Durham to house the 922 National Savings Certificates Division of the General Post Office, all of which have already been announced, are but indications of the massive programme of building work which the Government are undertaking in the North-East.
§ Mr. BoydenBut is the hon. Gentleman aware that there are no indications of a long-term plan and that that is what we expect from the Lord President of the Council?
§ Mr. FreethIf I answered the hon. Member's supplementary question I should be straying across my Answer to a later Question on the Order Paper, but this building is the first stage to try to relieve unemployment in the building industry which the hon. Member recognises exists. Long-term plans in the area must await the report which my noble Friend will make to his colleagues.