§ 24. Dr. Mabonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland why reference to further industrial development in the Greenock-Gourock-Port Glasgow area was omitted from the recent White Paper on Central Scotland.
§ Mr. NobleThe object of the White Paper was not to deal with each part of Central Scotland individually, but to set out a programme which would be of general benefit to the whole area.
§ Dr. MabonWhy, then, did the right hon. Gentleman say that it was physically impossible to provide further industrial development in this area of 100,000 Scots? Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware of the topography of 269 Renfrewshire and that there is a large potential area for the industrial estate at Port Glasgow to accommodate one large industry? Will he please give us this one industry which we need so desperately?
§ Mr. NobleI am not aware that I have said at any time that It was impossible to develop any industry in that area. Obviously, the areas concerned, being development districts, have exactly the same facilities as any other areas in development districts. What I did say to a gentleman of the Press was that within the towns of Port Glasgow or Greenock there was much less available space.