§ 6. Mr. Bruce-Gardyneasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what will be the full extent of cuts in public sector spending programmes in Scotland resulting from the Government's latest economy measures.
§ Mr. RossI do not have this information, but as regards the services for which I am responsible I would refer the hon. Gentleman to my reply of 17th January to my hon. Friend the Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton).— [Vol. 756, c. 591; Vol. 756, c. 687–8.]
§ Mr. Bruce-GardyneThe right hon. Gentleman seems to have devised a new sort of motto—that it is better to travel hopelessly than to arrive. What on earth is the point of retaining targets for public sector investment while at the same time admitting that there is no hope of reaching them?
§ Mr. RossThe hon. Member seems neither to travel nor ever to arrive anywhere definitely in any of his Questions. He asked a Question and I have given the Answer, which is related to the fact that there are certain matters concerning defence and the nationalised industries which can be included in the term "public sector spending programmes". He should know that these are not matters which can be properly and easily analysed in geographical areas.
§ Mr. G. CampbellWill the right hon. Gentleman reconsider the serious cuts in the housing programme——
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. There is a Question on housing on the Order Paper.
§ Mr. CampbellWill the right hon. Gentleman reconsider the cuts announced in reply to the hon. Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) and see whether more of the money could be used to help to relieve the situation resulting from the disaster of the recent hurricane?
§ Mr. RossI think the hon. Member is slightly mixed in his motives. He wants to restore cuts and at the same time to increase expenditure. He had better take these things separately in relation to their actual priorities.
§ Mr. DewarWill my right hon. Friend confirm that if we take the recent cuts in public expenditure in Scotland as a proportion of total public expenditure, the figure is only about half of the figure for Great Britain as a whole and this is still a continuing example of the demand for development of the Scottish economy?
§ Mr. RossThis is perfectly true and it carries out the pledge we have given in relation to Scotland and the development areas. A matter which is often overlooked is that in relation to public expenditure tied to achievement in economic expansion and growth in Scotland this is where we have made no cuts at all.