§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will make a statement on advance factories and their siting.
§ Mr. David HowellA periodical review of the advance factory programme was concluded last June, when my right hon. Friend announced its increase to a total of 30 factories to be located in the key and growth centres designated in the Development Programme 1970–75. The present state of the programme is given in the table below.
In addition, it has recently been decided to provide in West Belfast two advance factories of some 640 and 1,600 square metres respectively. Twelve small advance factories are also being built for the Local Enterprise Development Unit.
247WThe intention is that, subject to the overall objectives of the development programme, the advance factory programme should be "rolling forward" as tenants
Number of Factories Total Area (square metres) Locations Planning stage Under contract Complete Belfast Urban Area … … … … 1 4 1 26,000 Londonderry … … … … 1 4 — 14,700 Craigavon … … … … 2 1 1 14,900 Newtownards … … … … 1 1 — 7000 Bangor … … … … 2 — — 5,500 Strabane … … … … — — 1 1,600 Downpatrick … … … … — 1 — 1 600 Newry … … … … — 1 — 1 600 Dungannon … … … … — 1 — 1,600 Enniskillen … … … … — 1 — 1,600 Omagh … … … … — 1 — 1 600 Ballymena … … … … — 1 — 1,600 Antrim … … … … 1 — — 3 900 Larne … … … … 1 — — 3,900 Coleraine … … … … 1 — — 1,600 Carrickfergus … … … … 1 — — 1,600 Total … … … … 11 16 3 90,300