HC Deb 10 May 1967 vol 746 cc1484-5
18. Mr. Brewis

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the cost to date to public funds of the Scottish Economic Planning Council.

Mr. Ross

Members of the Planning Council serve without payment but are reimbursed their travelling and other essential expenses. Sums reimbursed under this head so far amount to £933.

Mr. Brewis

Is the right hon. Gentleman re-examining the rôle of this Council as suggested in a resolution to the General Council of the T.U.C., to make it a more effective instrument for securing Scotland's share of national economic expansion?

Mr. Ross

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the Answer I gave at the S.T.U.C. a few days after that statement was made. The hon. Gentleman will see that there was a misunderstanding of what the rôle actually was.

Mr. Edward M. Taylor

Does this expenditure cover the study of the implications of Common Market entry for Scotland? In view of the very real fears in the iron and steel industry and in other Scottish industries, and in view of the Secretary of State's remarkable silence, may I ask whether he will publish the results of any such study?

Mr. Ross

I have been accused of many things, but not of silence in relation to this matter or any other. I assure the hon. Gentleman that everything which is relevant to Scotland's economic future can be studied by the Economic Planning Council, either at my insistence or on its own initiative.