§ 10. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that, following recent pit closures, the community of Kelty in Fife is now without any form of employment, he will announce the building of an advance factory there, in addition to ensuring that alternative industry is speedily provided.
§ Mr. JayA programme of nine advance factories for Scotland was announced on 18th November. It is too soon to add to that programme: but we shall certainly encourage firms to develop in this area.
§ Mr. HamiltonIs my right hon. Friend aware that we were greatly disappointed that there was not one advance factory for this area? One can appreciate that all areas cannot have advance factories, but is he aware that this is a community of 89,000 people, that there were at one time eight or nine collieries, but that not 1800 one will be left there by the early part of next year? Can my right hon. Friend say what has happened to the hundreds of firms which the previous Administration said were falling over themselves to get into Scotland, and cannot we have one or two of those in Kelty?
§ Mr. JayI am glad to say that two advance factories from the previous programme are just about to start, and other developments are going on.