§ Miss Herbisonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland to the attention of which industrialists, looking for new factory space, his departments have brought north Lanarkshire; and what reasons have been given by these industrialists for their unwillingness to establish themselves in north Lanarkshire.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftI have been asked to reply.
The Board of Trade brings the possibilities of North Lanarkshire to the attention of industrialists in all appropriate cases. I could not undertake to disclose the names or the course of the discussions.
§ Miss Herbisonasked the President of the Board of Trade how many advance factories were built in Scotland in each year from 1945 to 1954; and where these factories are situated.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftProgrammes of Government factory building in Scotland in advance of demand were approved in14W 1945 and 1946 for the Estates at Blantyre, Carfin, Carntyne, Chapelhall, Coat-bridge, Dundee, Kilmarnock, Kilwinning, Larkhall, Newhouse, Port Glasgow, Queenslie, Thornliebank and Vale of Leven. These factories were completed between 1947 and 1951 as follows:
Year Numbers of advance standard factory buildings completed 1947 … … 6 1948 … … 7 1949 … … 17 1950 … … 12 1951 … … 4
§ Miss Herbisonasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will have built advance factories where there are suitable sites in order to attract work to north Lanarkshire.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftI do not consider that the building of Government-financed factories in advance of demand is justified in present circumstances.