HC Deb 14 March 1962 vol 655 cc1299-300
19. Lady Tweedsmuir

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why the contract for a new quarry plant at Thornhill Quarry, Portsoy, Banffshire, was awarded to an English firm, when an Aberdeen firm with great experience of this work would have undertaken the contract and thus given employment in a development district.

Mr. Maclay

This matter is one entirely for Banff County Council who will, I am sure, have taken all the relevant factors into consideration.

Lady Tweedsmuir

Does not my right hon. Friend think that it is very important that particulars of these tenders should be issued widely, particularly to local firms? Where, for example, the tender between an English firm and an Aberdeen firm in a development district is almost comparable, would it not be better, as a matter of public policy, that the contract should be awarded to the firm in a development district, which has great experience of this work?

Mr. Maclay

Naturally I am only too pleased when Scottish firms, particularly local ones, succeed in competition in quality and prices. This is a matter essentially for the local authority, and it would be dangerous to hold the view that we should be restrictive in the placing of contracts. Scotland has a great deal to gain from selling out of Scotland as well as in Scotland.

Mr. Hector Hughes

Is not this an example of a conspiracy on the part of the Scottish Office to divert trade, industry and employment from the north of Scotland where it is badly wanted and where the work could be well done? Will the right hon. Gentleman take urgent steps to change this unpatriotic policy?

Mr. Maclay

The hon. and learned Gentleman knows very well that this is a matter essentially for the local authorities. At one moment hon. Members opposite tell me that I interfere too much with the local authorities, but when local authorities do not do what hon. Members want, they tell me that I ought to interfere.

Lady Tweedsmuir

In view of the vast number of circulars to local authorities which are issued by my right hon. Friend's Department, does he not think that, in view of the large sums of money already taken in principle for development districts by the Government, they should send a circular to local authorities saying that, where the difference in a tender is not very great, preference should be given to local firms which have great experience of this kind of work?

Mr. Maclay

I am quite certain, first, that this is a matter which should be left to the local authorities; and, second and very important, that we shall not do what we want to do in Scotland if we become restrictive in our policy. While I hope that Scotish firms will win this sort of contract in competition on quality and price, I shall not say that they should be given undue preference if their quality and price do not match up to those of others.