§ Mr. Peter Freemanasked the President of the Board of Trade how many men, women and young people, separately, have been found work in the new factories provided or being built by the Board of Trade this year in the South Wales development area; how many they will accommodate altogether; and when he anticipates the balance will be working.
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§ Mr. Belcher:Of the 82 factories or extensions so far approved for the South Wales Development Area to be built and leased to industrialists under the provisions of the Distribution of Industry Act, 1945, none has yet been completed, but the construction of 21 of these factories has started and it is hoped that they will be completed by the end of this year. These factories will ultimately provide work for 12,000 male and 14,000 female workers. Information as to the number of young persons included in these figures is not available. 600 male and 850 female workers are employed in the R. O. F's. at Bridgend and Hirwaun, which have been allocated and are being converted for civil production. These numbers will steadily increase towards the target of 9,000 during the course of the year. In addition, 6 "standard" factories, the building of which was begun last year, will ultimately employ 870 male and 2,700 female workers. Four of these factories are completed and in production and are now employing 560 male and 850 female workers. Eleven other Government-owned factories have been allocated for civil production and will ultimately employ some 10,000 people. The number of persons actually employed at present in these factories is not readily available, but it is being obtained and will be sent to my hon. Friend.