§ Mr. Ness Edwards120, 121 and 122. asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what consideration has been given to a new advanced factory programme to meet the redundancies following the closure of collieries;
(2) what steps he is taking under the Distribution of Industry Act, 1945, to deal with the consequences of pit closures in the Development Area of South Wales;
(3) if he will authorise the South Wales and Monmouthshire Trading Estate Company to build factories in areas in which the mining industry is contracting.
§ Mr. J. RodgersI am in close touch with my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister of Power in order to find out how far the miners now working in the pits due to be closed can be transferred to other pits continuing in production. When we have the facts we will consider what action can be taken. We are prepared to build factories in West South Wales in any suitable cases for firms requiring them. I do not believe that 193W advance factory building would help; there are now many industrial premises empty in the area and elsewhere.