HC Deb 09 February 1939 vol 343 cc1139-40W
Mr. Temple Morris

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement showing the number of new industries which have been assisted by grants from the Special Areas Reconstruction Association, the Nuffield Trust, or by Government grant, and the location of these industries, together with the amount of assistance given, and the total capital of each enterprise, with the kind of trade to be carried on in each case?

Sir J. Simon

So far as the Treasury and the Special Areas Reconstruction Association are concerned, it would, I think, be contrary to the interests of assisted undertakings to publish a detailed list such as my hon. Friend desires, since it might be possible from such a list to infer the financial circumstances of individual businesses. I am not in a position to give any information as to the work of Lord Nuffield's private trust.

The scope of the work done in establishing new undertakings in the Special Areas may however be judged from the following particulars:

The Treasury and the association have so far agreed to lend respectively£1,272,000 and£633,000 to assist 109 new businesses (as distinct from the extension of existing businesses, for which purpose the association has made a number of loans). The total share and loan capital of these new businesses (including the sums provided by the Treasury and the association) amounts to£5,670,680. The undertakings cover a wide range of types of manufacture, including the following:

  • Coal mining.
  • Coal carbonisation.
  • Stone quarries.
  • Brick and tile manufacture.
  • Artificial stone and concrete products.
  • Aluminium manufacture.
  • Non-ferrous foundry.
  • Steel manufacture.
  • Steel forgings.
  • Steel tubes.
  • Sheet metal work, small boiler and tank making.
  • Sewing machines.
  • Tools and light engineering of various kinds.
  • Refractory materials.
  • Hollow-ware.
  • Glass works.
  • Shipbreaking.
  • Wooden doors.
  • Furniture and wood ware.
  • Leather tanning and leather goods.
  • Cardboard boxes and containers.
  • Tin boxes and containers.
  • Clothing, knitwear and textile.
  • Hosiery.
  • Polishes and varnishes.
  • Grain silo.
  • Confectionery and fruit cordials.
  • Buttons and clasp manufacture.
  • Dolls and toys manufacture.
  • Electrical switchgear and appliances.
  • Electric cables.
  • Printing on silk.
  • Brush manufacture.