§ 34. Mr. Redmondasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many inquiries for industrial sites and buildings have been passed to the industrial development officer at Bolton by his Department; how many of these have been from United Kingdom firms and how many from overseas since 1st April, 1972.
§ Mr. Anthony GrantIn consultation with the industrial development officer, the Department has suggested Bolton in reply to 21 inquiries for factory space, four of which came from overseas.
§ Mr. RedmondI thank my hon. Friend for that reply. Was it fair for the delegation from the North-Western Trades Union Congress to issue a statement to the Press after meeting my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State talking about gloom over jobs in the North-West?
§ Mr. GrantIt is not for me to comment on what statement the deputation made or did not make. All I can say is that the Department and Bolton work extremely well together and there is considerable optimism in my hon. Friend's constituency.