HC Deb 08 April 1954 vol 526 cc60-1W
Mr. D. J. Williams

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress is being made in the establishment of new industries in West Wales to meet the problem of redundancy that will arise when the old tinplate mills close down.

Sir D. Maxwell Fyfe

Since January, 1953, when I announced the steps the Government were taking to deal with this problem, three entirely new types of production have come to the area, for the manufacture of concrete housing units, oil-burner parts, and synthetic sausage skins respectively. In addition to the employment which will arise from these projects, it is hoped that existing undertakings in the area which have expansion projects recently completed or in hand (in addition to the major developments in the steel industry) will provide some further employment.

Her Majesty's Government will continue to do everything possible to point out the advantages of the area to industrialists who are looking for sites for new factories, but any industrial development is bound to take time, especially as the amount of industry seeking new quarters is considerably less than it was a few years ago.