§ Mr. Pearsonasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the anxiety of the workers employed at the Treforest Trading Estate about the increasing instances of redundancy and short-time employment, he will discuss with the Ministers concerned the possibility of placing a greater share of defence equipment contracts with firms in this part of the Welsh Development Area.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftI am aware that there has been recently a comparatively small amount of redundancy and short-time working on the Treforest Trading Estate, but unemployment in the area was less in February, 1952, than it was in February, 1951.
I understand that some firms on this estate are already engaged upon defence 246W contracts, and I can assure the hon. Member that the Ministers concerned are fully aware of the importance of using the resources of the Welsh and other Development Areas in carrying through the defence programme.