§ 13. Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what recommendations of the Highland Advisory Panel have been implemented.
§ Miss HerbisonGovernment action in regard to housing, including crofter housing, fishing, forestry and agriculture, piers, harbours, textiles and other Highland matters has followed advice given by the Panel from time to time. The Panel's advice is not always in the form of specific recommendations and in many cases relates to proposals put forward by other bodies. It is, therefore, not possible to say precisely what decisions and projects have been based on recommendations made by the Panel alone, but it is obvious that their advice has had wide acceptance.
§ Lord Malcolm Douglas-HamiltonAre there not many recommendations, made by the Highland Panel which, quite clearly, could have been followed without affecting the general economic position of the country?
§ Miss HerbisonNo. I am quite certain from the steps that have been taken by the Departments concerned and the Scottish Office that those recommendations made by the Highland Panel which could have been followed have been followed.
§ Mr. John MacLeodIs the hon. Lady aware that unless many of the recommendations are acted upon by the Government, people in the North of Scotland will feel that it will be useless to set up any further committees or courts of inquiry into Highland affairs?
§ Miss HerbisonFrom the list of those things which have been done from the recommendations by the Highland Panel. I am quite certain that that cannot be the feeling amongst a great many people in the Highlands.
§ 14. Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the urgent social and economic needs of the Highlands, he will consider the designation of the whole Highland area as a development area.
§ Miss HerbisonThe parts of the Highlands to which the provisions of the Distribution of Industry Act may be applied most suitably weer scheduled as a development area last year, and my right hon. Friend does not think that it would be appropriate to extend its boundaries to cover the whole of the seven crofting counties.
§ Lord Malcolm Douglas-HamiltonDoes the hon. Lady consider that unless the Highlands are given special consideration they cannot make their full contribution to the economic welfare of the country?
§ Miss HerbisonThe whole Highland area can be given special attention and it has been given it for the past four and a half years. I am certain that that will continue to be done by this Government.