§ Mr. Wellbelovedasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what provision is being made by the Greater London Council at its Thamesmead Development to ensure that employment will be available for the population; if he will state the number of square feet of industrial space to be provided in the years 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1972, the number of firms who have given firm undertakings to Thamesmead and the number of jobs involved.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonThe Thamesmead scheme makes provision for about 170 acres of industrial land and some local office employment. It has always been assumed that some residents will travel to work outside the area. It is not possible to state the amount of industrial space to be provided in particular years, since this will depend on decisions by private industrialists as well as by the Council. I understand that the Council is building twelve unit factories totalling 36,000 square feet which it hopes will be completed at the end of this year with the first firm in operation early in 1970. Unit factories have been reserved for five prospective tenants. Seven firms are interested in securing sites to build their own factories.
§ Mr. Wellbelovedasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many units of accommodation will be made available at the Greater London Council's Thamesmead Development in the years 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1972; and what are the estimated number of employable persons for each of these years moving into Thamesmead.
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§ Mr. K. RobinsonIn 1967 the Greater London Council estimated that between 1,000 and 1,300 houses would be completed annually between 1969 and 1972, but I understand that it is now reviewing this estimate. It is not possible to give an estimate of the number of employable persons likely to move to Thamesmead in each of these years.