§ 5. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the progress of his plans to date for attracting new industries to Aberdeen.
§ Mr. MaudlingAt the Board of Trade we are continuing our efforts to attract new industry to Aberdeen, and we have intimated our willingness to give what help and advice we can to the North-East Development Committee in Scotland.
§ Mr. HughesDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that he and his predecessors have been giving that sort of answer, expressing willingness, for eight years? Promises of that kind have been made, and Aberdeen and the north-east of Scotland is littered with broken promises. Will the President of the Board of Trade do something constructive to bring new industry to Aberdeen?
§ Mr. MaudlingI always express, and will express, willingness to help. What I cannot do is express willingness to direct, and, indeed, I do not think that the hon. and learned Gentleman has ever asked us to do so. All we can do is to help people who want to go to Aberdeen. In the first place, there must be people who want to do so.