Mr. David Adamsasked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the number of factories which have been established in Great London since 1932 and the number in the Special Areas since that date; and the total number of persons employed at present in the former and latter areas, respectively?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydIn reply to the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the Annual Surveys of Industrial Development published by the Board of Trade. From these he will find that in the period 1932–37 inclusive, the net increase in the number of factories in Great London was 532. Later figures are not available. These surveys do not distinguish the Special Areas. The records are, however, being examined for the whole of the period and I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.
Employment figures in respect of the two sets of factories are not available. The only employment figures which can be given are those relating to the total number of insured persons aged 16 to 64 in the respective areas. Excluding agriculture, etc., it is estimated that at the end of the period referred to there were 900,000 employed in the Special Areas, and 2,750,000 in Great London. The definition of Greater London is, however, not the same in each case.