HC Deb 23 April 1969 vol 782 cc452-3
13. Earl of Dalkeith

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received about the exclusion of Edinburgh, Leith and Portobello from the Scottish development area.

Mr. Ross

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Pollok (Mr. Wright) on Wednesday, 12th March.—[Vol. 779, c. 284–5.]

Earl of Dalkeith

Is the Secretary of State aware that his policy is strangling Edinburgh and merely transferring unemployment from one place to another, at considerable cost to the taxpayer? Is he aware that by the time we get the Hunt Report tomorrow it will be largely out of date because so many manufacturing firms have announced since the Hunt Committee took evidence that they are to leave Edinburgh?

Mr. Ross

The hon. Gentleman's feelings about this subject have overrun his ability to read and appreciate statistics. Edinburgh is one of the places where employment has increased.

Mr. Eadie

Is my hon. Friend aware that during the last Recess I carried out a tour of industry in my constituency of Midlothian and that all the industrialists there who came from Edinburgh said that they had transferred from Edinburgh to Midlothian because in Edinburgh there was no room for expansion?

Mr. Ross

There is a certain amount of truth in that. There is no doubt that in Edinburgh there is limited room for expansion. I appreciate, however, the fears of those who see industry which has been in Edinburgh for some time leaving, but far too gloomy a view can be taken of that, as many people have been moving into Edinburgh after having spent a long time trying to get employment in their own areas.

Mr. Stodart

Has not the right hon. Gentleman time and time again defended the exclusion of Edinburgh because of its low unemployment rate? Does it not now have a higher rate than many development areas, including Aberdeen? Do the Government wish the industry which Edinburgh possesses to leave it?

Mr. Ross

Despite the changes which have taken place, I cannot see Edinburgh becoming depressed or comparable with the areas in Scotland which demand most of our attention, such as the Glasgow area, Port Glasgow, Greenock and so on. Hon. Members should face the relative position of Edinburgh as compared with the rest of the country, although I agree that some parts of Edinburgh probably command more sympathy than others.