§ 40. Mr. Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in view of the recent closure of several linen mills, and the continuing difficulties of the linen trade, whether he will advise National Health Service authorities and other public bodies to encourage their purchasing officers to direct their attention to the desirability of increased purchases from the Scottish linen trade.
§ Mr. MaclayI share the hon. Member's concern about these closures. Hospital authorities are always glad when they can buy in Scotland, and I know that they do in fact make substantial purchases from Scottish linen mills. There are great difficulties, however, in the suggestion that public authorities should purchase from particular sources regardless of price and other considerations.
§ Mr. HamiltonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that Fife is particularly concerned in this problem, since there is, in any case, limited scope for the employment of women in Fife, and the recent closure of textile mills there has aggravated the problem? Further, is he aware that when we approached the Board of Trade in connection with the matter mentioned in Question No. 37 and suggested that British Nylon Spinners be offered Donibristle, which is one of the only sites in the country fulfilling all the conditions required by British Nylon Spinners—[HON. MEMBERS: "No."] yes—the firm did not seriously consider that site? Will the Minister therefore consult the President of the Board of Trade with a view to making the whole of Scotland a scheduled area under the 1958 Act?
§ Mr. MaclayI genuinely appreciate the hon. Member's concern about the situation, but I do not think it would be 200 appropriate to go into the wider issues that he has raised in his supplementary question.