§ 92. Mr. Hamiltonasked the President of the Board of Trade how much new factory space has been provided in each of the last five years in the developing mining areas of Scotland; how much is expected to be provided in the current financial year: and whether he will take steps to give greater publicity to the needs of these areas for alternative light industry.
§ Mr. H. StraussAccording to the latest information available to the Board of Trade, the area of new factory space provided in the developing coalfield areas of East and West Fife, Alloa, the Lothians and Ayrshire in each of the last five calendar years was as follows:
103W
sq. ft. 1949 68,000 1950 53,000 1951 39,000 1952 231,000 1953 139,000 Total 530,000 These figures relate to new factories and factory extensions of over 5,000 sq. ft. for which Industrial Development Certificates have been issued. They do not include new buildings and extensions approved for the National Coal Board.
It is impossible yet to say what factory space will be provided this year. The Board of Trade will continue to consider sympathetically applications for Industrial Development Certificates for these areas and to bring their advantages to the notice of suitable industries.