HC Deb 19 July 1960 vol 627 cc224-5
13. Mr. Lawson

asked the President of the Board of Trade what in the number of production engineers employed in the Scottish Region of his Department for the purpose of assessing the production capacities of the different branches of Scottish industry.

Mr. J. Rodgers

None, Sir.

Mr. Lawson

Does not the hon. Gentleman think that if there were some people in Scotland who could advise Scottish firms about the production capabilities of other Scottish firms it might be possible for us to step up production in Scotland much more than we have succeeded in doing? Will he look at the question? Is it not very bad that the Board of Trade has no one in Scotland who can give such advice?

Mr. Rodgers

I will certainly look into the point, but the staff of the Office for Scotland give advice about the production capacity of Scottish industry. We do not consider it necessary to employ production engineers for this purpose. The information can usually be obtained from the Office for Scotland or any of the other appropriate regional offices.

Mr. T. Fraser

Was not the Scottish Regional Office equipped with those engineering personnel during the war and immediate post-war period? Was it not seen to be a great advantage? If so, would it not be an advantage to have such people now?

Mr. Rodgers

Perhaps the hon. Member might like to put down that question.

14. Mr. Lawson

asked the President of the Board of Trade what number of civil servants of the senior executive grade, and upwards, are employed in the Scottish Region of his Department.

Mr. J. Rodgers

Six, including the Secretary of the Regional Board for Industry.

Mr. Lawson

Does the Parliamentary Secretary consider that there are enough of these people in Scotland, particularly in view of the fact that his Department recently wrongly advised my hon. Friend the Member for Bothwell (Mr. Timmons) and myself about who was occupying the naval stores at Carfin? This indicates that the hon. Gentleman's Department does not have much knowledge of what is going on in Scotland. Will not the hon. Gentleman examine this number to see whether there are enough people to do the job which they are supposed to be doing in Scotland?

Mr. Rodgers

We have no evidence whatever that extra staff is required, but naturally I will look into the point which the hon. Member has raised.