§ Mr. J. J. Lawsonasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any definite plans to prohibit the further establishment of factories in areas which were officially declared to have reached saturation point before the war and where heavy building programmes have since been carried out; and when he will be in a position to make a definite statement on industrial planning.
§ Mr. DaltonI hope that legislation will be introduced next Session to give effect to the proposals in Chapter III of the White Paper on Employment Policy, including the point referred to by my hon. Friend.
§ Mr. J. J. Lawsonasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the recent announcement by the Controller General of Factory and Storage Premises that a large number of factories are to be leased at once; and whether, in view of the fact that the North-east area was deliberately deprived of war factories on grounds of vulnerability, he will give preference for the establishment of such factories in that area.
§ Mr. DaltonThe statement made, on my authority, by the Controller General2216W of Factory and Storage Premises relates to the terms on which existing Government factories in all parts of the country will be leased as they become surplus to Government needs. As regards future building, the Government, as indicated in paragraph 26(c) of Chapter III of the White Paper on Employment Policy, will give priority to areas in special need of industrial diversification, such as the North-East coast.