§ 50. Mr. Pentlandasked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he is aware that work has not yet commenced on the building of a new factory which had been approved by his Department at Washington, County Durham, by the Tube Steel Investment Company; if, in view of the fact that public money was advanced to enable the company to purchase almost 300 acres of land at cheat rates as an inducement to build in the area in 1961, and that Government grants were made to Durham County Council and to Washington Urban Council to enable them to build new roads and sewers on the site, he will have a full investigation made into this matter; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. D. PriceI am aware that Tube Investments Ltd., have not started work on their proposed factory at Washington. No public money, however, has been advanced to the company. The only grant made by the Government in support of the project is a small one to the Washington Urban District Council for road building. In these circumstances, I do not consider that an investigation is required.