HC Deb 17 June 1948 vol 452 cc628-30
16. Colonel J. R. H. Hutchison

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is prepared, in cases where a development council or advisory council or advisory or consultative committee is constituted in any industry which has an important Scottish element, to appoint a separate Scottish council or committee.

Mr. H. Wilson

No, Sir. I cannot give any such general undertaking. Each individual case must be considered on its merits. But, while I fully recognise the importance of providing for Scottish interests, I do not think that the setting up of separate bodies will be found, as a general rule, to be desirable.

Colonel Hutchison

Is the Minister aware that in many industries the system of operating is very different between Scotland and England? Is he further aware that in the furniture trade and trades of that kind considerable anxiety is expressed at the appointment of a council in which the English method of working will have dominance?

Mr. Wilson

We have not yet appointed a council for the furniture trade but last night in Edinburgh I had a discussion with a special committee of the Scottish Council for Industry on this matter. While I agree that there are differences in working, in many other cases there are such similarities that everyone will be advantaged if we can have a single council for the whole country.

Sir William Darling

Does the Minister's answer take any consideration of the knitwear trade and of the difference between the Scottish and the English methods of production?

Mr. Wilson

Yes, Sir. That point was made in Edinburgh last night, but I have found some difficulty in discussing the matter with the Scottish knitwear and hosiery industry, in the first place because they are opposed to having a development council at all, and, secondly, because they want a separate one for Scotland.

Mr. Gallacher

Would the Minister reconsider his attitude regarding the setting up of an independent Scottish advisory council for the exhibitors in the film industry, in view of the difficult position in which Scottish exhibitors find themselves under the new quota?

Mr. Wilson

The question I am answering relates to development councils. There is no development council in the film industry, nor is one in contemplation.