§ 67. Mr. Greyasked the President of the Board of Trade the number of branch factories in the North Eastern Trading Estates that are attached to Scottish firms.
§ Sir D. EcclesI am aware of two such cases and there may be others, but the business links of tenant firms are not always known to the Board of Trade.
§ 69. Mr. Greyasked the President of the Board of Trade what rentals are received a year from the Government-owned factories in the North-East; how much the buildings have cost since the North Eastern Trading Estates were formed 21 years ago; and how much they have appreciated over this period.
§ Sir D. EcclesI would refer the hon. Member to the Summary Statistical Statement published with the Trading Accounts and Balance Sheets 1956–57. The rent roll of Government factories in the North-East is there given as £840,471 for the year ended 31st March, 1957. The figure for the gross cost of these buildings, which include some built for war purposes and taken over from other Government Departments is not readily available, but the book value of the fixed assets at that date are shown as £16,437,225 after allowing for depreciation. No estimate is available of the current market value of these factories.