HC Deb 11 December 1968 vol 775 cc399-400
10. Mr. Milne

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a progress report on the special development districts in the Blyth constituency, giving details of advance factories built, tenants secured and the number of jobs to be made available during the next 12 months.

Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody

In the special development areas in my hon. Friend's constituency, four advance factories have been built since 1964. Three of these are occupied and an application for the fourth is under consideration. Other industrial development is also taking place in these areas. Two thousand six hundred and fifty new jobs, including 1,820 for men, are expected to arise within the next four years. I regret it is not known how many of these will become available during the next twelve months.

Mr. Milne

Is my hon. Friend aware that while that represents a considerable success story of past achievements, the rate of progress in the months ahead to meet the impact of impending pit closures is of itself not sufficient, and will my hon. Friend inject some sort of urgency into her Department to speed up an already satisfactory programme?

Mrs. Dunwoody

I accept that it is bound to be worrying if there is continuing job loss, but I hope my hon. Friend will accept that the special development area projects are bound to have an increasing effect in the coming months.

Mr. Higgins

The hon. Lady keeps talking about new jobs. Will she define that precisely? Is it the same as additional jobs, or not?

Mrs. Dunwoody

It is all jobs of which we are aware which will be created in all new industrial development. I hope that the hon. Gentleman will accept my definition.