Dundee Development District

HC Deb 15 April 1965 vol 710 c1638

5. Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

asked the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has for changing the status of the Dundee development district.

The President of the Board of Trade (Mr. Douglas Jay)

None, Sir.

Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

Is the President of the Board of Trade aware that the sole basis for the Dundee development district is the special position of the jute industry but that other burghs in Angus are more dependent than Dundee on the jute industry'? Would he, therefore, take steps to extend the scope of the development district to include those burghs?

Mr. Jay

Fortunately, unemployment is not at the moment very high either in Dundee or the surrounding district, but if we see any need for an extension we shall make it.

Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

The issue is not unemployment but the dependence of the area on the jute industry. Will the right hon. Gentleman look at this aspect again with some urgency?

Mr. Jay

Under the present law, which was introduced by the party opposite, it is only if the dependence on jute leads to a threat of unemployment that we are able to do what the hon. Gentleman suggests.