§ 34. Mr. Wolrige-Gordonasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now consider building advance factories in development areas in co-operation with local industry, to ensure maximum use of resources and increased employment in the areas.
§ The President of the Board of Trade (Mr. Douglas Jay)Advance factories are built by the three Industrial Estates Management Corporations for the Board of Trade. Contracts are normally put out to competitive tender. Experience shows that most have been placed with firms in the vicinity of the site.
§ Mr. Wolrige-GordonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is sometimes a danger of siting advance factories in the wrong place to attract new industry or, perhaps, to interest existing industry in the area, and that one of the most successful parts of development policy in the past has been the assistance given to local industries in the area at the time? In the circumstances, ought he not now to contemplate practical assistance of the kind suggested in my Question?