§ 2. Dr. Dickson Mahonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will agree to sanction the construction of a further advance factory in the Larkfield Industrial Estate, Greenock.
§ Mr. ChatawayThe existing advance factory at Greenock has recently been allocated, although certain details remain to be settled with the prospective tenant. I shall bear in mind the claims of Greenock for a replacement factory.
§ Dr. MabonIs it not the Department's policy, as it was the policy of the previous Government, always to top up with a new advance factory when an existing advance factory has been let? That was an excellent practice in the past which proved successful and I earnestly urge the Minister to promise that he will announce the building of such a factory quite soon. After all, it takes 18 months to build.
§ Mr. ChatawayI cannot go further at this stage. The hon. Gentleman will know that there is another advance factory at Greenock, although an applicant is under consideration there. As he was good enough to invite me to his constituency, perhaps we shall have an 5 opportunity to discuss the matter further then.
§ 4. Mr. Edwin Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many industrialists have visited the advance factory at Denaby Main, accompanied by one of his officials; and if he will now assign an individual civil servant to be responsible for the letting of this factory.
§ Mr. ChatawayThree. It is not practicable to assign full responsibility for letting to a single officer. The resources of the regional office are used, and will continue to be used, for this purpose.
§ Mr. WainwrightDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that the factory at Denaby Main was completed in June and that no tenant has yet been found for it? Unemployment in the area is high and everybody is getting rather despondent. What plans have the Government to find tenants for these factories? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in this part of the country there are large pockets of unemployment? Why does he not consider giving the South Yorkshire coalmining area development or special development area status?
§ Mr. ChatawayI understand that the hon. Gentleman and his constituents want this factory to be let as soon as possible. I can assure the hon. Gentleman that our regional officers are directing all their efforts towards that end. The substantial increase in the number of lettings and sales has been very encouraging indeed. The whole object of the advance factory programme is that there should be factories available. Therefore, there are a number that remain empty at any one point in time. I do not want that to be the case for very long in the hon. Gentleman's constituency. Development area status is another question.