§ 33. Mrs. Hartasked the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has for a new industrial estate in Lanarkshire which will serve the needs of the southern and eastern area of Lanarkshire, in particular, within travelling distance of Forth.
§ Mr. ErrollI am not yet ready to add to my hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Coatbridge and Airdrie (Mr. Dempsey) on 10th May.
§ Mrs. HartIs the President of the Board of Trade aware that within ten days 150 miners will be displaced from their employment in the village of Forth? Is he further aware that, with all the perfectly correct concentration on the needs of north Lanarkshire there has been an abysmal neglect of the needs of the southern and eastern parts of the county?
§ Mr. ErrollI am aware of the special difficulties of the somewhat isolated community of the village of Forth, but I do not think that that alone should influence me in the decision about the site of the new industrial estate.
§ Miss HerbisonSurely the right hon. Gentleman is aware that he has done nothing at all not only about Forth and the area about which my hon. Friend has expressed concern but a very wide area in Lanarkshire? What does he propose to do in future to ensure that the whole of the area is rehabilitated by a new industrial site?
§ Mr. ErrollI must admit that I find it difficult to distinguish accurately between the constituency boundaries and the boundaries of the local employment exchange areas in this developed part of Scotland. I want to be careful not to mislead either the hon. Ladies the Members for Lanark (Mrs. Hart) and Lanarkshire, North (Miss Herbison) or their constituents. I should therefore like to think over what both hon. Ladies have just said.