HC Deb 06 December 1967 vol 755 cc1424-7
16. Mr. Buchanan-Smith

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland by what year the objectives laid down in the White Paper, The Scottish Economy, 1965–70, Command Paper No. 2864, will be achieved.

25. Mr. Wolrige-Gordon

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the relationship of the White Paper on the Scottish Economy of January, 1966, to the present economic situation in Scotland.

Mr. Ross

I have stated on a number of occasions my belief that the broad strategy and objectives of the White Paper on the Scottish Economy are right. I still maintain this view. Although economic events since the White Paper was published will delay the rate of achievement then envisaged, the Government's regional policies are setting new trends in development and are already producing significant results in new growth.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

The Secretary of State keeps telling us that these objectives take longer to achieve. Does devaluation and the consequent Government cuts mean that they will take longer still? Does Socialist Government always mean for Scotland prosperity tomorrow and never today?

Mr. Ross

I wish that the hon. Member would give us some constructive suggestions now and again instead of repeating slogans. Anyone who has been reading responsible journals over the past week will have noted the acclaim which has been given to the success of the Government's policies.

Mr. Wolrige-Gordon

Can the right hon. Gentleman say in what way, for example, the proposals of his right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport will not be almost disastrous for the development of the Scottish economy?

Mr. Ross

The hon. Gentleman and a lot of his friends have been preaching woe for so long that they are disappointed when improvements are made in transport or anything else. The hon. Gentleman was not justified in the remark which he has just made.

Mr. Grimond

Will the Secretary of State bear in mind that, irrespective of whether he thinks that it is a matter of woe, transport is of the first importance in many parts of Scotland's economy? While it may be reasonable to impose higher charges on lorries in the South of England, where alternative transport is available, it does not make sense in the North of Scotland, where there is none.

Mr. Ross

I would have been delighted to answer a Question on transport from the right hon. Gentleman if he had put it down.

Mr. William Hamilton

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the devaluation proposals will give enormous impetus to Scottish exports, in which the record is already impressive?

Mr. Ross

That is true. It is what some of the responsible journals have been saying. If hon. Members go among the firms in their constituences, many of them will already notice the considerable difference in the possibilities of obtaining export orders.

Mr. G. Campbell

Have not those responsible journals indicated that it is the work of some years ago which is helping the current improvement in the industrial situation? On the White Paper, does the Secretary of State in particular still expect in manufacturing industry an annual growth of output of 4.4 per cent. as forecast on page 7?

Mr. Ross

I assure the hon. Member that the improvements which have been made in the past two years have had a lot to do with the better performance, of Scottish industry and the changing pattern of Scottish industry. We hope to achieve the highest possible increase in manufacturing industry.

38. Mr. MacArthur

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a progress report on Command Paper No. 2864, The Scottish Economy 1965–70.

Mr. Ross

I have nothing meantime to add to the reply I gave on this matter to the hon. Member for Berwick and East Lothian (Mr. Mackintosh) on 25th October.—[Vol. 751, c. 1725.]

Mr. MacArthur

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that since this discredited White Paper was published Scotland has suffered from the Selective Employment Tax, from the proposal to increase transport charges, from a drop in employment for the breadwinner, from devaluation, from forthcoming cuts in expenditure and from the collapse of the National Plan on which the whole of the Scottish proposal was based? Would he not agree that the time has come for a complete review of the White Paper?

Mr. Ross

I could give a catalogue of the advantages which have come to Scotland from, for instance, the S.E.T. premiums and the regional employment premium. Perhaps the hon. Gentleman would address himself to the facts of his Question. We have discussed the Scottish economy in the House and in the Scottish Grand Committee. I assure him that I do not take as gloomy a view of the future of Scotland as he obviously does.

Mr. Lawson

On a point of order. Is not the purpose of a Question to ask for information and not to give it?

Mr. Speaker

I had an idea that that was part of the object of Question Time.