§ 69. Mr. Skinnardasked the President of the Board of Trade how many firms with factories now in the Greater London area have applied for sites in the new towns; what is the total number of employees in these factories; and how many have expressed themselves as willing to migrate to the new towns.
§ Mr. J. EdwardsSince the end of the war some hundreds of London firms have made preliminary inquiries about prospects in the new towns. Four firms have received licences to build factories in these towns. Another eight firms have applied for industrial development certificates under the Town and Country Planning Act. Three certificates have been issued and the other applications are now under consideration. These 12 firms at present employ approximately 1,900 people in the Greater London area and they expect to employ about 2,500 in their new factories. It is expected that a substantial number of the present employees will follow their employers to the new towns.