HC Deb 16 October 1968 vol 770 cc116-7W
Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will give details of his plans to increase trade and industry, particularly in the construction industry in the city of Aberdeen; and when those plans will be put into operation;

(2) if he will make a statement of his plans to assist industry in Aberdeen resulting from his visit there in September, 1968, with particular reference to developments at Crombies and the Don-side Paper Mills and Messrs. Richards Limited, flax spinners, and also to the new advance factories there.

Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody

My right hon. Friend was pleased to visit Aberdeen recently and to study the situation. The visits to the three firms named were both interesting and useful.

My right hon. Friend was particularly glad to announce the allocation of the 27,500 sq. ft. advance factory. We shall continue to make full use of all the powers available to us to encourage the growth of industrial development suited to the needs of Aberdeen.

Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give details of the location and number of the factories and other industrial facilities made available in Scotland under the Industrial Development Act 1966, stating the nature of the work carried out and the number of workers employed in each project.

Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody

The Industrial Development Act, 1966, authorised the Board of Trade to modernise existing Board of Trade factories where necessary. This work, which will take several years to complete, is under way and Scotland is sharing in it. I cannot give details of the work carried out without disproportionate expenditure in terms of time and money. Nor is it possible to relate the work precisely to the number of jobs created by it though in general it should, of course, make for the better utilisation of our factories over the years.

Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the President of the l3oard of Trade if he will state the nature, extent and result of the advertising campaign undertaken by him in conjunction with the Scottish Office to bring to the notice of industrialists the opportunities for expansion in Aberdeen.

Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody

Board of Trade advertising is directed at bringing the opportunities of the development areas in general to the attention of industry. In their discussions with individual firms the Board of Trade bring to the notice of industrialists the suitability of particular development area locations, including Aberdeen.