HC Deb 03 July 1962 vol 662 cc256-8
10. Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has received the six-point plan sent to him by the Scottish Board for Industry last week recommending the building in Scotland of advance factories, more generous grants and other steps designed to alleviate unemployment in Scotland; and if he will state his reply to each of these recommendations.

13. Mr. Willis

asked the President of the Board of Trade what new proposals he has for providing employment in Scotland arising from the representations of the Scottish Board for Industry.

Mr. N. Macpherson

I had a full and useful discussion with the Scottish Board for Industry after receiving their views on employment in Scotland. Some of their suggestions were referred to in the debate on 26th June, and there will be a further opportunity to discuss them in the debate on industry and employment in Scotland. In general, I told the Scottish Board that the Government's policy is to continue to use to the full the powers available under the Local Employment Act to help those parts of Scotland in which high unemployment exists or is threatened.

Mr. Hughes

Does not the Minister realise that that reply is as vague as his replies generally are and that it bears no relation to the actual problem? Does he further realise that this is a plan evolved by expert industrialists and others which deserves the fullest consideration, not, as in the case of granting loans to foreign shipyards, where the experts were consulted after the Government had stated their policy instead of before it? Will the Minister take a lesson from that and pay heed to the good advice which the experts are giving him by this plan?

Mr. Macpherson

We always give heed to the advice of the advisory bodies which we ourselves set up, but we cannot follow it in every case. There were some seven separate suggestions put forward, and they are now being considered.

Mr. Willis

Is not the hon. Gentleman aware that almost every association and body in Scotland concerned with economic and social development is now very definitely of the opinion that the Government should take some fresh initiative about Scotland, and that that was pinpointed in West Lothian? Does not the hon. Gentleman think that it is about time that the Government adopted some of the very many suggestions which have been made by these bodies, and which are continuing to be made all the time?

Mr. Macpherson

We are aware that several areas consider that they should receive special treatment, but our view is that we should give the same treatment to all areas that are in need.