§ 25. Mr. Brewisasked the President of the Board of Trade how many applications for assistance under the Local Employment Act have been received from the Stranraer development area.
§ Mr. MaudlingNone, Sir.
§ Mr. BrewisDoes my right hon. Friend agree that this is very disappointing, and will he use his influence with other Government Departments, such as the Admiralty, to see whether Government contracts could be placed in the area?
§ Mr. MaudlingI will certainly look at that. I agree that it is very disappointing, but the fact is that, although 1544 we call this area and other areas to the attention of people who are expanding, there has not as yet been any application for help. We shall certainly persist in doing all we can.
§ Mr. RossAre not the results here most disappointing? Will the President of the Board of Trade ensure that, in the panic to do something, his Ministry does not forget that new industries are wanted in Scotland, and will he tell his Department to stop trying to bribe with financial inducements firms to go out of areas of traditionally unstable employment, such as Kilmarnock, to other areas?
§ Mr. MaudlingI do not think that my Department is in a panic, nor do I think that we indulge in bribery. The problem in Scotland is to provide more jobs; whether they are from new or from existing industries I am not sure matters one way or the other. The great thing is more jobs.