§ Mr. Simpsonasked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is now in a position to say what is the result of the Government's consideration of the protests against the projected chemical factory at Morecambe; and whether, in the interests of employment in the depressed areas in South Lancashire, a change of site can be made?
Captain BalfourMy right hon. Friend received a deputation on this matter from the Morecambe and Heysham Council on Tuesday last. He explained to them that an exhaustive survey of the West coast had been made with a view to finding a site which would not interfere with amenities and would if possible be in a special area. There are, however, a number of technical and strategic factors which seriously limit the choice of suitable sites for plant of this character, and it has not, I regret to say, been possible to find any other site which meets all the requirements.