§ 28. Mr. Bruce-Gardyneasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the impact of the Budget on the fulfilment of the Scottish Plan.
§ Mr. RossBy strengthening the national economy the Budget measures will clearly help to promote our economic objectives for Scotland.
§ Mr. Bruce-GardyneThat is about the biggest load of moonshine that we have heard in this Parliament. Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that it is about time we scrapped this tatty bit of paper, the Scottish Plan? Will he give serious consideration to the proposal by the Scottish Council of the C.B.I. that Corporation Tax on firms in Scotland should be cut by 50 per cent., and distributions by close companies to the same extent, and the R.E.P. scrapped in exchange?
§ Mr. RossThe hon. Gentleman had better face the fact that he has been proclaiming disaster for Scotland for years, but thank goodness it has never come about. If he thinks that my forecasts are wrong, perhaps he will look at the statement in the Observer and the Sunday Times at the weekend of what Lord Polwarth said on Scottish industrial prospects in his report on the Bank of Scotland?
§ Mr. James HamiltonIs my right hon. Friend aware that, although the hon. 1362 Gentleman says that many industrialists in Scotland are doing badly, they are able to give financial support to the Conservative Party, as has now been found out?
§ Mr. RossAll I can say is that hon. Gentlemen opposite need all the support they can get. If their financial masters heard them today, and indeed every day, they would change their minds about whether they were worth supporting.