§ 25. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement of his plans to provide funds to help firms to build new factories in Scotland, with particular reference to Aberdeen and north-east Scotland generally.
§ The President of the Board of Trade (Mr. Douglas Jay)Any project which provides additional employment for the benefit of development districts in Great Britain qualifies at present for consideration for assistance under the Local Employment Acts, 1960 and 1963. As explained in the White Paper "Investment Incentives" of 17th January, it is intended that inducements, linked as before to employment, which will assist the building of new factories, shall be available in the wider development areas—including Aberdeen and north-east Scotland—now proposed.
§ Mr. HughesWhilst thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply, and realising that he is well aware of the needs of Aberdeen, may I ask whether he will state in detail what practical steps he is taking to provide funds?
§ Mr. JayI shall do that if I catch the eye of the Chair during the Budget debate, but I am happy to say that Aberdeen is now more prosperous than it has been for many years past, and it showed appreciation of this fact by voting very sensibly in the recent election.
Mr. Edward M. TaylorThe right hon. Gentleman was asked about future plans. Will he bear in mind that the new payroll tax discriminates against Scotland?
§ Mr. JayThe new tax does not discriminate against Scotland, and the investment incentive scheme, which the hon. Gentleman has no doubt studied, discriminates in favour of it.