HC Deb 05 February 1969 vol 777 c387
16. Mr. Dewar

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects Professor Gaskin's Report on North-East Scotland to be published.

Mr. Ross

In three to four months from now.

Mr. Dewar

I thank my right hon. Friend for that information. As I am sure that he accepts the importance of this Report to North-East Scotland, will he use the very considerable influence of his Department to ensure that no further blows to the structure of industry in the North-East, comparable to the one just suffered by Inverurie, take place before the Report is published and future plans based on its recommendations are made?

Mr. Ross

I cannot see such a blow falling within the time scale which I have mentioned, and I should hope that it will not. I have now received the Report and we will waste no time in considering the advice contained in it; it is a very lengthy document.

Mr. Wolrige-Gordon

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether the recommendations in the Report will receive financial backing from the Government?

Mr. Ross

We had better wait to see what the Report says.