HC Deb 21 April 1953 vol 514 cc791-2
18. Mr. McInnes

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to indicate the names of the organisations which he has consulted with regard to the Cairncross Report and what conclusions have been reached.

Mr. Henderson Stewart

The Report was submitted to the Government by the Scottish Council (Development and Industry) and the views of the Scottish Board for Industry are awaited. As regards the last part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a Question asked on 31st March by the hon. Member for Fife, West (Mr. Hamilton).

Mr. McInnes

Surely the hon. Gentleman is aware that that answer is most unsatisfactory because this document has been in the possession of the Government for many months? Does not the serious unemployment in Scotland demand immediate action, and will the hon. Gentleman take steps to study this Report and reach some conclusions at an early date?

Mr. Stewart

I do not know what the hon. Gentleman means. The Report is available, but the Government have not reached a decision about it for the reasons which I explained on the last occasion.

Mr. Brooman-White

Is my hon. Friend aware that, without necessarily accepting the implications of the remark of the hon. Gentleman for Glasgow, Central (Mr. McInnes) about the immediate unemployment problem or the difference between Scotland and England in that respect, there is a widespread feeling that the present Distribution of Industries Act was framed to deal with circumstances in Scotland very widely different in many respects from those which we are meeting at the present time, and can he say what are the prospects of the whole of these arrangements being revised and. where necessary, readjusted?