HC Deb 28 October 1953 vol 518 cc382-3W
Mr. H. Wilson

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number, floor area and cost of factories and factory extensions built since January, 1949, and under construction at the present time in the Merseyside Development Area, distinguishing Government-financed from privately-financed factories; and, if possible, giving an estimate of the numbers currently employed in these factories.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

The following table gives the latest information available to the Board of Trade.

(a) FACTORY BUILDING COMPLETED IN THE MERSEYSIDE DEVELOPMENT AREA DURING THE PERIOD 1ST JANUARY, 1949, TO 24TH OCTOBER, 1953
—— New factories (exceeding 5,000 sq. ft.) Extensions (exceeding 5,000 sq. ft.) to existing factories
Number Area sq. ft. '000 Cost* £ '000 Number Area sq. ft. '000 Cost* £ '000
Government financed … … 8 444 777 1 12 13
Privately financed … … 35 2,713 5,806 94 1,932 3,809
Total … … 43 3,157 6,583 95 1,944 3,822

(b) FACTORY BUILDING UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN THE MERSEYSIDE DEVELOPMENT AREA AT THE PRESENT TIME
—— New factories (exceeding 5,000 sq. ft.) Extensions (exceeding 5,000 sq. ft.) to existing factories
Number Area sq. ft. '000 Cost* £ '000 Number Area sq. ft. '000 Cost* £ '000
Government financed … … — — — 1 45 143
Privately financed … … 5 216 394 23 629 1,346
Total … … 5 216 394 24 674 1,489
* Cost figures: The figures represent the estimated cost at the date of the approval of the project, or of the issue of an Industrial Development Certificate.

Figures of current employment in these factories are not readily available but, at the end of May, 1953, the estimated employment in factories and extensions completed since 1st January, 1949, was as follows:
—— New factories (exceeding 5,000 sq. ft.) Extensions (exceeding 5,000 sq. ft.) to existing factories
Males Females Total Males Females Total
Government financed … … 1,342 679 2,021 — — —
Privately financed … … 2,595 1,239 3,834 2,080 1,378 3,458
Total … … 3,937 1,918 5,855 2,080 1,378 3,458
Since May, 1953, it is estimated that further completions have given employment to about another 400 people.