§ 23. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the President of the Board of Trade if he has yet completed his consideration of the need for building advance factories in Aberdeen; and how many such factories he now plans to build, and for which industries.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade (Mr. David Price)My right hon. Friend has no plans for building advance factories in Aberdeen.
§ Mr. HughesIs that not a terrible confession of failure? Does the hon. Gentleman know that this morning I received a letter showing that he is as bigoted and prejudiced as ever against the city of Aberdeen, notwithstanding representations made to various Ministers of the Crown when they visited Aberdeen, representations made by Aberdeen Trades Council and other representative bodies there? Will he get rid of that bigotry and prejudice against Aberdeen and supply us with advance factories which we need?
§ Mr. PriceI can assure the hon. and learned Member that my right hon. Friend has no bigotry towards the city of Aberdeen, but in his view there are other parts of Scotland in which the need is greater.
§ Lady TweedsmuirIs my hon. Friend aware that a need as great as an advance factory in Aberdeen is to encourage existing industry to obtain a larger share of sub-contracting work from the industrial belt? Could he therefore say what his Department is doing to encourage this?
§ Mr. PriceI can assure my hon. Friend that financial assistance under the Act is always available to firms in Aberdeen of whatever nature they are.