§ 57 Mr. Malcolm MacPhersonasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the intended closing of the British-American Tobacco Company's factory in Stirling; whether he is also aware that this will intensify the already existing need for light industry in the Stirling area; and what steps he intends to take.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade (Mr. Henry Strauss)Yes, Sir. I am aware that further industrial employment would be welcomed in the area, and the Board of Trade will be prepared to consider the issue of industrial development certificates in appropriate cases.
§ Mr. MacPhersonIs the hon. and learned Gentleman aware that this is another case of a firm with headquarters in England closing down the Scottish end of its production? Will he take that into account in the policies which he and his Department carry out?
§ Mr. StraussI think that in this case both the union concerned and the Stirling Town Council have accepted the decision as inevitable on economic grounds.