Mr. W. Joseph Stewartasked the Minister of Labour whether it is the intention of the Government to establish trading estates in county Durham, other than the Team Valley trading estate, with a view to providing work for the large number of persons unemployed in this county; if so, when, and where?
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§ Mr. ButlerIt is not the present intention to establish further trading estates in Durham comparable with that of Team Valley. The Commissioner is, however, acquiring a site for a number of factories at Pallion, near Sunderland, and is considering the suitability of a similar site in the south-west part of the county. The Commissioner will also be ready, in 'suitable circumstances, to exercise his power to provide individual factories and sites elsewhere in the area, though it will be appreciated that, in regard to the establishment of light industries, economic advantage lies, on the whole, in concentration.
Mr. W. Joseph Stewartasked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the number of factories now completed; the number under construction; and the number of persons that have found employment on the Team Valley trading estate up to the most recent date for which figures are available?
§ Mr. ButlerOn the 29th October, the number of factories completed on the Team Valley trading estate was 23. In addition, 35 were under construction to meet the definite requirements of industrialists. On that date just over 1,200 persons were employed on the work of developing the estate and just over 550 were already employed in those factories where operations had begun.