§ 78. Mr. Nabarroasked the President of the Board of Trade how much new factory space has been completed during each of five years ended 31st March. 1956; and, when issuing industrial certificates for this new factory space, what minimum standards of structural thermal 26W insulation he required in the interests of coal conservation.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithThe answer to the first part of the Question is given below. As to the second part of the Question, the Board of Trade has no power to prescribe such standards as a condition of the issue of an industrial development certificate which relates solely to the distribution of industry.
AREA OF INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS* COMPLETED IN GREAT BRITAIN IN THE PERIODS SPECIFIED Year ended 31st March '000 square feet 1951 24,535 1952 37,008 1953 29,625 1954 30,774 1955 37,558 Nine months ended 31st December, 1955† 31,594 Note * The figures relate to new buildings and extensions to existing buildings, over 5,000 square feet, for manufacturing industry.
†The figures are based on information received by the Board of Trade up to the end of March, 1956. The figure for the last three-quarters of 1955 is likely to be revised upwards as further information becomes available. Figures for the first quarter of 1956 are not yet available.