asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the reasons for imposing a moratorium on the development and investment programme of English Estates.

There has been an unprecedented demand for English Estates (EE) to build factories to the specific order of prospective tenants, and there is just not enough money to meet all the demands. EE has called a temporary halt to further commitments on specific projects whilst it sorts out with the Government what type of work should be given priority within its limited financial resources.This does not mean, of course, that the Government have taken a decision to stop English Estates' factory building in the assisted areas.