§ 18. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the President of the Board of Trade what progress is being made with his plans for the creation of new publicly-owned industries in development areas, especially in mining areas likely to suffer from pit closures.
§ Mr. JayA large number of publicly-owned factories, advance and otherwise, are now being built in development districts; and new publicly-owned industrial estates are being developed and existing estates extended.
§ Mr. HamiltonWhy does my right hon. Friend continually refuse to answer the Question, which relates to publicly-owned industries and not to factories? Does he recall that the Prime Minister, before the 1964 election, made a speech in Liverpool committing the Labour Party to publicly-owned industries in the development areas? When will my right hon. Friend be able to come to the House and say that such industries are to be established?
§ Mr. JayIf my hon. Friend wants literally new publicly-owned industries, much wider legislation will be required. If he is thinking of projects in which the public may participate, the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation shortly to come into existence will help.
§ Sir C. OsborneWill the right hon. Gentleman resist the suggestion made by the hon. Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton)? [HON. MEMBERS:"Why?"] Because publicly-owned businesses so far have lost money and paid no taxes from profits to help maintain the Welfare State.
§ Mr. JayMore than £100 million worth of factory space is now owned by the Board of Trade in these areas. Practically all of it is occupied, and that should satisfy my hon. Friend the Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton), if not the hon. Member for Louth (Sir C. Osborne).
§ Mr. ShinwellIs not the point raised by the hon. Member for Louth (Sir C. Osborne) one reason why my right hon. Friend might give this further consideration?
§ Mr. BarberCan the right hon. Gentleman say clearly and unequivocally that it is not his intention to create new publicly-owned industries?