§ Mr. A. Edward Daviesasked the President of the Board of Trade what new industries have been recently allocated to North Staffordshire; and whether he has any plans under consideration for providing a greater diversity of industry and more employment in that area.
§ Mr. Belcher:The Potteries district is one of the areas in which, after the Development Areas, we are making every effort to provide a more diversified industrial structure. Three Government-owned factories have been allocated to civilian production during the past nine months. The firms to whom they have been allocated are engaged in the electrica industry and will provide employment opportunities for about 5,000 on work of a type not available in North Staffordshire before the war.
In addition 23 building schemes have been approved. Three will be new factories for existing industry, 19 for the modernisation and extension of existing factories and the remaining scheme is for the construction of a factory which will produce aluminium household fittings am utensils and will be a new industry for the district. These schemes when com- 102W pleted will provide employment for about 4,500 additional workers.