§ 49. Mr. Gallacherasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether His Majesty's Government are intending to act on the recommendation of the Scottish National Development Council's economic committee, to the effect that Glasgow and Dundee should be scheduled as Special Areas; and whether they will also consider including the depressed port of Leith and the North-East Scotland fishery towns 807 and take steps to promote an industrial estate for the East of Scotland on the lines of North Hillington?
The Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Wedderburn)The reply to the first two parts of the question is in the negative. It was made clear during the passage of the Special Areas Amendment Act last Session that it was not intended to make any alteration in the Areas defined in the Act of 1934. With regard to the last part of the question, I would remind the hon. Member that assistance towards the establishment of factories outside the Special Areas can be given only in the circumstances set out in Sections 5 and 6 of the recent Act, copies of which I am sending to him.
§ Mr. GallacherIn view of the very serious situation, is it not possible for the Scottish Office to take extra special measures or to get the necessary changes made in the Special Areas Act?
§ Mr. KirkwoodIs not the Under-Secretary of State aware that since the Scottish Office came to their decision, conditions have become acute, owing to the depression in the jute industry in Dundee, and will he go into the matter to see whether anything can be done to relieve the depression that exists, particularly in Dundee?
Mr. WedderburnNot under the Special Areas Act.