§ Mr. Roy Hughesasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to introduce public enterprise factories into those areas of the country which have failed to induce sufficient private enterprise concerns and as a result are abnormally affected by unemployment.
§ Mr. JayThe vigorous application of my powers under the Industrial Development and Local Employment Acts, including the provision of publicly-owned factories, provides the best means of helping the development areas.
§ Mr. Elystan Morganasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now consider establishing State-owned factories in areas which suffer unemployment or depopulation to a high degree.
§ Mr. JaySince 1964 we have pursued a vigorous policy of erecting State-owned factories in those areas which we consider are likely to suffer in a high degree from unemployment or depopulation and under the four advance factory programmes alone which we have approved, 94 factories have been or will be provided in development areas.
§ Mr. Symondsasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now consider establishing State-owned factories in West Cumberland, especially as Millom and Cleator Moor are suffering from a high degree of unemployment.
§ Mr. JayTwo Board of Trade advance factories have been sited at Cleator Moor of which one (25,000 sq. ft.) is ready for occupation and the other (10,000 sq. ft.) is due for completion by the end of February. An application to occupy the larger of these factories is now being considered. When a further programme of advance factories is contemplated, consideration will be given to the claims of West Cumberland and those of other Development Areas. My Department is88W also willing to build factories for industrialists who can provide suitable employment in the area.