HC Deb 14 July 1966 vol 731 cc1694-5
11. Mr. G. Campbell

asked the President of the Board of Trade what has been the effect on employment in the Highlands and Islands of the Government's control of office development.

Mr. Darling

By restricting the development of facilities for increased employment in London and Birmingham the Government's policy directly or indirectly benefits the rest of the country.

Mr. Campbell

But as this control can have had no effect in the Highlands and Islands on unemployment and increasing development, will the right hon. Gentleman ask Treasury Ministers to stop adducing this as a regional development measure to help the Highlands in reply to complaints about the ill-effects on employment in the Highlands of the Selective Employment Tax?

Mr. Darling

The Control of Offices Bill is only one of the industrial measures which we have for the dispersal of industry and commerce. All the measures, taken together, are doing what the hon. Gentleman wants—perhaps not quickly enough.