HC Deb 20 February 1968 vol 759 c102W
Mr. Brian Parkyn

asked the President of the Board of Trade, how many applications for industrial development certificates have been made in Bedford in each of the past five years; and how many have been rejected.

Mr. Darling

The following applications for projects over 5,000 sq. ft. were approved for the Bedford Employment Exchange Area:

Number Area Th. Sq. ft.
1963 … … 4 35
1964 … … 4 76
1965 … … 5 31
1966 … … 10 142
1967 … … 9 244

It is not the practice of the Board of Trade to state the number of applications refused in the Midlands or South-East as this would be misleading. Many firms in such areas are dissuaded from applying or do not press their applications to the point of formal refusal.