§ 24. Mr. Boydenasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the area of new factory space being built in the Northern Region on 1st October, 1971, or other convenient date; and how this area compares with the amount of factory space closed for production in the region during 1971.
§ Mr. Anthony GrantI regret this information is not available.
§ Mr. BoydenThat is a shocking answer. Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this is one of the keys to knowing whether the Government's so-called policy is working? If he does not have this figure, will he revise the decision to end R.E.P., at least until the number of jobs is back to something like normal?
§ Mr. GrantNo, Sir. The position is that developers of factory space are not generally obliged to tell my Department either about the progress of new building or when space is closed for production, which is the basis of the hon. Gentleman's Question. I can tell him, however, of the equivalent picture from the point of view of our own factories. This is that the total space under construction was 8 per cent. in excess of closures during the first nine months of 1971.