§ Q7. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Prime Minister if he will take steps to stop the drift of trade, industry, commerce, employment and population south from Scotland by appointing a Minister whose sole task will be to deal with and solve this problem.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. I have the greatest confidence in my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development and the Secretary of State for Scotland, who are collaborating closely in the discharge of this task.
§ Mr. HughesDoes not the Prime Minister realise that Government policy has long suffered from the view that the north-east of Britain ends at the River Tweed; that the north-east of Scotland does not exist and that the Ministers he has mentioned do not rectify that view? Will he therefore appoint a Minister whose sole duty will be to look after trade, commerce and employment in the north-east of Scotland?
§ The Prime MinisterI think I said to the hon. and learned Gentleman the other day that we are having a survey made of the Borders, of North-East Scotland and of the Highlands. We are already pursuing our regional policy so far as Central Scotland is concerned, and I do not think he can say that we have neglected matters north of the Tweed.