Mr. W. Joseph Stewart:

asked the Minister of Labour the number of factories on the Team Valley Trading Estate that are now in production; the number under construction; and the number of persons employed up to date?

On 31st May, 1939, 99 factories were occupied and in production on the Team Valley Estate. The number of persons employed in the factories was 2,525. Eight factories had been completed but had not then been occupied by the tenants; nine were under construction for tenants who had agreed to lease them and 14 further tenants had been secured making a total of 130.

Mr. Stewart:

Are any industries new to Durham being introduced on the estate, and is there still an inquiry from manufacturers and business men for these factories?

Certainly.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether in these factories trade unionists are being preferred and trade union rates of wages paid?

That is a separate question of which I should require notice.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these 2,500 are only a drop in the bucket in dealing with the unemployed in Durham, and has he any definite plans to deal with this problem?

They are growing, and, of course, the figures of unemployment in the county are dropping regularly month by month.

Mr. Stewart:

Will the Minister answer the first part of my supplementary question as to whether any industries new to Durham are being introduced?

I thought that that was quite clear. The bulk of them are new industries.