§ 82. Mr. Daggarasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now make a statement showing to what extent the cuts in capital expenditure are affecting the building of new factories, particularly in the development areas.
§ Mr. BottomleyWhile, owing to the magnitude of the task, my right hon. Friend is not yet in a position to make a116W full and comprehensive statement about the effect of the new investment programme on new factory construction in the country as a whole, it is now possible to assess its broad effect in the development areas. Up to 31st March, 1948, the construction of 1,212 new factories and extensions of 5,000 sq. ft. and over had been approved for the development areas. Of these, 368 had been completed and 565 were under construction. The construction of a further 49 will be allowed to start. The corresponding figures for the South Wales and Monmouthshire Development Area are, approved 300, completed 81, under construction 148 and allowed to start 13. In addition, there is still a number of projects under review throughout the development areas.