HC Deb 10 November 1977 vol 938 cc226-7W
Mr. Madden

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will consider the further expansion of the advance factory programme as a means of providing for the creation of jobs in the assisted areas; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Alan Williams:

The advance factory programme has a useful and proven role to play in furthering regional employment policies for the Assisted Areas.

The programme's main purpose remains that of contributing, along with other forms of regional assistance, towards the diversification of industry in areas where the effects of structural unemployment are most severe. In the last few years it has also complemented measures taken by the Government to assist small firms, and in the assisted areas it has a particular rôle to play in furthering the provision of jobs in the inner city areas.

The programme expects to provide some of the additional factory capacity which will be needed in areas of special need when the economy expands. An increasing number of factories are becoming available and I am pleased to say that the number of lettings is steadily rising.

In addition to the six complexes of small factory units at Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Hull, Bootle, Liverpool and Camborne (providing employment opportunities for about 1,400 jobs) which I announced on 19th October the Department is now planning to build the following 59 factories totalling 550,000 sq. ft. with a job potential of some 2,200.

At the same time, I am asking the English Industrial Estates Corporation to proceed with the adaptation of two large older factories at Gateshead and South Shields to provide 17 smaller units totalling 24,000 sq. ft. and 51,000 sq. ft. respectively.

Location of advance factory Area square feet
YORKSHIRE AND HUMBERSIDE
Bridlington 2 x 5,000
Hemsworth 1 x 10,000 (TU)
Bradford (1 x 10,000)
(2 x 5,000)
Goldthorpe (1 x 15,000) (TU)
(2 x 5,000)
Elland (1 x 10,000)
(1 x 10,000) (TU)
Barnsley 1 x 10,000 (TU)
SOUTH WEST REGION
Hayle 2 x 5,000
Ilfracombe 2 x 5,000
Torrington 1 x 10,000
WEST MIDLANDS
Oswestry 1 x 15,000
EAST MIDLANDS
Skegness 2 x 5,000
Holmewood 2 x 5,000
Sutton in Ashfield 1 x 10,000 (TU)
NORTH WEST REGION
St. Helens 2 x 10,000
Widnes 1 x 10,000
Huyton 1 x 25,000
Ellesmere Port 1 x 10,000
Netherton 1 x 15,000
Ulverston 2 x 5,000
Barrow 1 x 15,000 (TU)
Wigan 1 x 10,000
Manchester 1 x 10,000
Fleetwood 1 x 10,000
Carn forth 2 x 5,000
Heysham 1 x10,000
Nelson 1 x 10,000
Burnley 1 x 10,000 (TU)
Blackburn 1 x 10,000
Clitheroe 1 x 10,000
Bury 1 x 10,000
NORTHERN REGION
Gateshead 1 x 20,000
Sunderland (1 x21,000) (TU)
(3 x 6,400)
Hartlepool 1 x 10,000 (TU)
Workington (1 x 10,000)
(1 x 15,000)
Maryport 1 x 10,000
1 x 5,000
Crook 1 x 10,000 (TU)
Bishop Auckland 1 x 10,000
Consett 1 x 10,000 (TU)
Cramlington 1x 15,000 (TU)
Langbaurgh (South Bank) 1 x 10,000 (TU)
Langbaurgh (Loftus) 1 x 10,000
TU= Terraced unit.