asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the pit closures pending in West Durham, if he will establish a trading estate in the area affected.

The Board of Trade already owns some 430 acres in West Durham and Aycliffe suitable for industrial development. I shall not hesitate to take the necessary steps to purchase more land should it be needed.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask him whether he will bear in mind that, as a result of the announcements last week by the National Coal Board, it is estimated that there will be 8,000 fewer jobs in West Durham? Therefore, the need for a planned industrial estate is more urgent than ever.

Yes. But we have already extended the development districts in this area. There are already industrial estates at Aycliffe, Shildon, West Auckland and Team Valley, not far from West Durham. In addition, we are building two advance factories, one of which is in my hon. Friend's constituency.