§ Mr. Laversasked the President of the Board of Trade whether any steps are being taken to promote employment and re-employment in the Durham County area, in view of the fact that in addition to redundant factory workers thousands of demobilised men will require employment before 1st January, 1946.
§ Mr. Ellis SmithYes, Sir. We have taken active steps to promote new sources of employment in the County of Durham, which my hon. Friend will know is in the North Eastern Development Area. Among the measures adopted are (a) the establishment of four new trading estates, (b) the conversion of a number of Government-owned war factories and (c) the encouragement of numerous schemes for factory construction both by Government and by private finance. My hon. Friend can see the full details of these if he cares to visit the planning room at the Board of Trade.