§ 15. Mr. Boydenasked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development how much factory building has been started in the Bishop Auckland constituency as a result of the measures proposed in Command Paper No. 2206; how many jobs have so far been created; and how many are in the pipeline.
§ Mr. D. PriceNo factory building has been started in the Bishop Auckland constituency since the publication of Command Paper No. 2206. But two advance factories started before then have been completed and a tenant found for one. In addition, assistance under the Local Employment Acts, 1960, and 1963 has been offered to five projects, expected to give rise to 75 new jobs.
§ Mr. BoydenAt that rate, the unemployment rate in this constituency will be equal to the national average by about 1984. Will the hon. Gentleman say why he has cast Bishop Auckland for the rôle of a travel-to-work area and an area where there is to be continued migration, instead of taking much more vigorous steps to stimulate the development of industry locally, and introducing other industry?
§ Mr. PriceThe hon. Gentleman knows the answer, because we have had this out many times before. Bishop Auckland 671 is not in the growth zone in the North-East. It is in the travel-to-work area. It remains a development district outside the growth zone and, therefore, any industry going there can take advantage of the Local Employment Acts. The facilities are there.