§ 3. Mr. JOHNSTONasked the Secretary of State for Scotland the source of the information which he communicated to the Scottish Economic Committee on the 6th instant that there has been in fact no drift southward of industry from Scotland; whether he has considered the statistics and history of such industries as calico printing and the cotton industries; and whether he is prepared to make available, in the Library of the Reuse of Commons or elsewhere, figures and facts dealing with the movement of industries to or from Scotland in the past 20 years?
§ Sir G. COLLINSMy statement to the Scottish Economic Committee was based on the situation in the last few years as disclosed in the Board of Trade's Surveys on Industrial Development for 1932, 1933 and 1934, from which it would appear that there has been no large southward movement of industrial establishments. As regards the second part of the question, I am aware that the Reports of the Census of Production for 1924 and 1930 show that for calico printing the Scottish share of the total United Kingdom production declined considerably and that for finishing work on cotton piece goods it declined slightly, but that for the spinning and weaving sections there was no appreciable change. As regards the third part, much information bearing on the subject of the movement of industries has already been published in the Census of Production Volumes and in the Ministry of Labour Gazette; and the Scottish Economic Committee will, no doubt, give consideration to this subject.
§ Mr. JOHNSTONIf the right hon. Gentleman is relying upon the Survey of Industrial Development for 1934, issued by the Board of Trade, is he aware that in that very document it is made perfectly clear that during the period in question five factories were closed in Scotland for every three new ones that were opened in England, while in the South of England the position is exactly the reverse?
§ Sir G. COLLINSNo doubt the figures which the right hon. Gentleman quotes are accurate, but that does not mean to imply that factories are closed in Scotland and similar factories are opened in England. It is not due to factories being closed in Scotland and reopened in England.
§ Mr. JOHNSTONDo not the facts which the right hon. Gentleman now admits put an entirely different face on the statement which he is alleged to have made at the opening meeting of the Scottish Economic Advisory Committee?
§ Sir G. COLLINSNo. The statement I made was made after great consideration, and I think it was an absolutely fair picture of the whole position.
§ Sir ARCHIBALD SINCLAIRIn view of the great importance of this question to the economic life of Scotland, and of the great public interest taken in the right hon. Gentleman's statement, would he not consider publishing the information upon which his statement was based in the form of a White Paper, so that all the facts could be collated from the various sources which he has mentioned in his reply to the question on the Paper?
§ Sir G. COLLINSI should be very happy to take a suitable opportunity of informing my right hon. Friend and others of the real facts, but I do not think that a White Paper would be the proper course to pursue. I am, however, anxious that the facts should be known and that the public should be able to judge.
§ Mr. JOHNSTONWhat does the right hon. Gentleman mean by a suitable opportunity to make the facts clear?
§ Sir G. COLLINSNo doubt such an opportunity will present itself in due course.
§ Sir A. SINCLAIRCan we be assured that the right hon. Gentleman will not dismiss from his mind the possibility of issuing a White Paper on this subject in some form in which the facts can be clearly explained to the people of Scotland?
§ Sir G. COLLINSCertainly.