§ 30. Dr. Dickson Mabonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is now in a position to announce a favourable decision on the application by the Inch-green Investigating Company Limited for financial assistance in the construction of the proposed graving dock at Greenock.
§ Mr MabonIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that, since he made the announcement last year, unemployment in my constituency and on Clydeside has remained very formidable and is standing, no matter what the Minister of Labour does, at a very substantial 8 per cent.? Would not he agree that this is most unfortunate?
Mr AmoryI agree with what the hon. Gentleman says. I would like to see a satisfactory outcome of the matter to which the Question refers. As the hon. Gentleman knows, these applications are made in confidence to the Development Areas Treasury Advisory Committee and so, beyond my Answer, I cannot say anything more to the hon. Gentleman today.
§ Mr WoodburnIs not this a matter of concern not only to my hon. Friend's constituency but to the whole of the Clyde Valley? Can the Chancellor say whether the delay is due to the committee or to the people who are promoting the scheme, so that the public may know whom we can ginger-up a bit?
Mr AmoryI appreciate the point that this proposal is of wide interest. Limited, as I am, by what I have just said to the hon. Gentleman, I cannot say more than that I think the difficulty has arisen from the nature of the proposal in the application. I do not think there is any blame to be attached to either side.