HC Deb 25 October 1967 vol 751 cc1719-20
25. Mr. Russell Johnston

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he proposes to issue a revised edition of the Scottish National Plan.

Mr. Ross

No, Sir. I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the Answer I gave to the hon. Members for Moray and Nairn (Mr. G. Campbell) and Edinburgh, North (Earl of Dalkeith) on 10th May.—[Vol. 746, c. 1471.]

Mr. Johnston

Would not the Secretary of State admit that the economic situation, which may not be wholly within the control of the Government, has outdated the Scottish Plan? If the Plan is outdated, surely we must have it brought up to date, otherwise there is no point in having it.

Mr. Ross

The hon. Member is quite wrong. Our strategy and our targets are right. It may well be, as I said on 10th May and as I repeat today, that it may take a little longer, but that does not invalidate the actual targets.

Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

Does not the Secretary of State realise that we are getting a little sick and tired of his constantly saying that these targets will take that little longer to reach? How much longer?

Mr. Ross

Not quite as long as it took the party opposite to do the first thing, which was from 1951 to 1963.