§ 10. Mr. Eadieasked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he intends to take to attract new industry to the Newbattle Industrial Estate following the closure of Lingerwood Colliery, Midlothian.
§ The Minister of State, Board of Trade (Mr. George Darling)The facilities for new industry at the Newbattle Industrial Estate will be put forward on all suitable occasions to industry seeking sites in Scotland.
§ Mr. EadieI thank my right hon. Friend for his reply, but does he realise that the Newbattle Estate is a very good industrial estate and that when a pit closure occurs in this area jobs are lost? Will my hon. Friend try to assist as much as possible in this matter?
§ Mr. DarlingThe Newbattle Estate is one of the best in the country and we want to do all we can to see that industrial development goes on there. I am glad to say that the unemployment following the closure of Lingerwood Colliery did not turn out to be as serious as we first imagined it would be.