90 and 91. Mr. J. T. Priceasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he is aware that Westhoughton, Lancashire, is a scheduled development area, 14W with a bad history of unemployment in the years of depression but that every scheme for the introduction of new industry to the town has been turned down by his department; and if he will now take action to bring new industries to Westhoughton where approximately 50 per cent. of the working population are compelled to travel elsewhere for employment;
(2) if he is aware that Westhoughton, Lancashire, is scheduled to receive 20,000 over-spill population from Salford, but that, in the absence of sufficient industry to employ the existing population of the town which is an undeveloped development area, there are obstacles to the carrying out of this plan; and if he will reconsider the matter.
§ Mr. H. HopkinsonI am, of course, aware that at some times in the past, Westhoughton suffered from a high rate of unemployment but in no case has the Board of Trade refused to grant an industrial development certificate for this town. As the hon. Member knows unemployment in Westhoughton has been consistently low in recent years, and in 1951 the average number of persons registered as unemployed was only 30. There is abundant work within easy reach of the town. In present circumstances I do not think that special action to introduce into the locality new industry requiring new industrial building would be justified.
I am informed that the detailed proposals that the town should receive surplus population from Salford over a period of years have not yet been formally submitted to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government for his approval, but I understand that plans for re-siting industry to accompany the population are likely to form part of the scheme.