HC Deb 15 November 1966 vol 736 cc218-9
Q1. Mr. Edward M. Taylor

asked the Prime Minister whether he is satisfied with the existing arrangements designed to co-ordinate the activities of Ministers concerned with the protection and development of the Scottish economy; and if he will make a statement.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Wilson)

Yes, Sir. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland is responsible for the formulation and implementation of plans for Scotland within the national framework. In exercising this responsibility he acts in consultation with other Ministers concerned.

Mr. Taylor

If the Prime Minister is satisfied with existing arrangements could he explain precisely what benefits accrue to Scotland from his consistent devaluing of the position of the Secretary of State for Scotland and, in particular,

from the reported exclusion of the Secretary of State from discussions which are vital to Scotland—[Interruption.]— in the recent Chequers talks on the Common Market and the recent meeting of the Cabinet Economic Committee, and—[HON. MEMBERS: "Speech."]

Mr. Speaker

Order. Other hon. Members have Questions to ask.

The Prime Minister

There has been no question of devaluing my right hon. Friend, who has been at every meeting of the Cabinet dealing with Common Market questions. Hon. Members who know my right hon. Friend will know by now that he has an extremely penetrating voice when it is a question of putting forward the needs of Scotland at any meeting that he attends.

Mr. Noble

We have as much experience of the penetrating voice of the right hon. Gentleman as the Prime Minister has, but does not he think that there are occasions, apart from meetings of the Cabinet, where the presence and advice of the Secretary of State for Scotland would often be useful at preliminary discussions? It is this which the people in Scotland feel may be being neglected.

The Prime Minister

There is no question of the voice of Scotland being neglected or going unheard where Scotland's interests are concerned. I strongly suspect, although I have no evidence on this, that my right hon. Friend has made a much bigger contribution on these matters and on the question of entry into Europe than did the right hon. Member for Argyll (Mr. Noble) when he was in office.