§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) whether his Department has estimates of unoccupied factory and warehouse space for regions other than the West Midlands;
(2) why his Department does not collect information relating to unoccupied factory and warehouse space in the West Midlands.
§ Mr. Gregor MackenzieThere is no statutory requirement for any person to notify my Department of vacant premises. The Department does, however, collect information from estate agents, developers, local authorities and new town corporations about industrial land and buildings available for sale or for rent in the assisted areas. This information, which in itself is unlikely to be comprehensive, is added to information about Government factory availability in order to put forward location suggestions in response to inquiries from firms. These inquiries arise from the Government's regional policy measures, including the advertising campaign on behalf of the assisted areas. Provision of a similar location service in the non-assisted areas would not be appropriate in the regional policy context. Information about industrial property availability in those areas is not, therefore, collected. In some places, the local authorities collect information in order to advise inquirers. My Department has no direct interest in the availability of warehouses in any area.