HC Deb 22 March 1955 vol 538 cc1850-1
10. Miss Herbison

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for future employment in North Lanarkshire as an alternative to those put forward to him by the hon. Member for North Lanarkshire.

Mr. Henderson Stewart

I would refer the hon. Lady to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to her on 2nd December last.

Miss Herbison

Is the Joint Under-Secretary of State aware that, in an intervention in a previous debate, he tried to say that he had a solution for this problem? Is he also aware that this is a very serious problem which receives great publicity in the Press, and that the "Glasgow Herald" had a first leader on it and the "Citizen" an important article? It he further aware that his former replies have been most unsatisfactory, and that my people are coming to the conclusion that this Government, including the Scottish Ministers, are quite ineffectual in bringing any hope to them?

Mr. Speaker

Sir Robert Boothby.

Miss Herbison

I wonder if I could have an answer to my supplementary question, Mr. Speaker?

Mr. Speaker

I cannot get an answer from the Minister.

Mr. Stewart

What I said to the hon. Lady was that these particular established factories—or whatever is the right word—did not form the only solution. Inever said that I had a solution. I can assure the hon. Lady that all the facts which she has put to us have been most carefully considered. We are doing many things, but not exactly the things which she suggests. I am sorry.