Mr. Leeasked the Minister of Aviation why the decision has been taken to close a stores depot at Old Pocklington, Yorkshire; and, in view of the need to stop the drift of labour to the South, if he will consider changing this decision.
§ Mr. MartenThe closing of the stores at Pocklington is part of a plan to economise by centralising the three existing civil aviation stores, two of which are in the South, and a large quantity of defence stores. I have carefully considered whether in present circumstances the central store should be sited in the North; I am satisfied that this would have the effect of using up a large area of premises, valuable for industrial use, while having a negligible effect on the local employment situation.