§ 11. Mr. MacArthurasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will redefine the Highland area to include those parts of the Scottish Highlands which lie outside the crofter counties.
§ Mr. WillisDefinitions of the Highland area are included in a number of Statutes for particular purposes, and my right hon. Friend does not propose to make any changes in these. So far as the proposed Highland Development Board is concerned I would refer the hon. Member to the relative provision in Clause 1(2) of the Highland Development (Scotland) Bill now before the House.
§ Mr. MacArthurIs the hon. Gentleman aware that my enthusiasm for my Question has declined considerably since yesterday when I saw the paltry sum of money being made available by the Government for the Highland Development Board? Is he aware how absurd the sum appears when set against the powers which it is proposed to take and the large promises made at the General Election by the party opposite, and the fact that the last Administration was already investing between 25 and 30 times this sum in the Highlands year by year?
§ Mr. WillisMost of that supplementary question was, of course, quite irrelevant to this particular Question. I have no doubt we shall be able to deal with that when we come to the Bill. Meanwhile I am quite content to rest on the knowledge that at least the people in Scotland will be happy about the Highland Development Board.