HC Deb 09 December 1964 vol 703 cc1528-30
11. Mr. G. Campbell

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if the studies of the Highlands, the Border, the northeast and the south-west of Scotland, which were undertaken by the Scottish Development Group, are being continued.

32. Mr. Wolrige-Gordon

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is continuing the study of the development plan for the north-east of Scotland; and what immediate proposals he has to make.

Mr. Willis

All these four studies are being pressed forward as quickly as possible within the framework of the Government's policies for the country as a whole.

Mr. Campbell

Will the hon. Gentleman give us an assurance that the thorough studies and sincere searches for solutions which have been carried out, and are being carried out, through the Scottish Development Group with the local authorities and other bodies concerned will not be prejudiced by ill-considered decisions and measures taken for purely doctrinaire reasons?

Mr. Willis

Yes, Sir.

Mr. Wolrige-Gordon

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that my Question applies mainly to the north-east development area of Scotland where recent Government measures, in particular the surcharge and the petrol duty, are causing real difficulty to two firms, due to the geography of the area, and also to the varied nature of their businesses? Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this has come at a time when we have just begun to break the unemployment difficulties of the area, and that there is a real need for him to treat the development areas as special areas and to try to gain some alleviation for their economic problems in that way?

Mr. Willis

That is hardly related to the hon. Gentleman's Question which asks whether the study of the plan for the North-East is continuing. The answer to that is "Yes". The second part of the Question is whether there are any immediate proposals to be made. The answer to that is that we are awaiting the report of the Planning Group on the North-East.

Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

Will the hon. Gentleman assure us that there will be no delay in the publication of the study for north-east Scotland, and that the north-east section will not be delayed to enable the Government first to complete their plans for a Scottish Planning Board?

Mr. Willis

Yes, Sir.

Mr. Monro

Can the hon. Gentleman give any indication of the approximate date when the south-west plan will be published?

Mr. Willis

We expect all the plans to be put forward by the middle of next year. It has not yet been decided how best to publish them.