HC Deb 07 April 1970 vol 799 cc239-40
Q6. Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

asked the Prime Minister which areas he proposes to visit when he goes to Scotland on 24th April.

The Prime Minister

My visit to Scotland which will now take place on 22nd April will be to Oban.

Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

Why is not the right hon. Gentleman including a trip to Dundee on his occasion? Is he afraid that he might have his 1964 pledge on jute jobs thrown in his teeth? If he is, will he consider switching round the texts this time and recommending an increased navy in Dundee and the safety of jute jobs in Chatham?

The Prime Minister

I would very much like to visit Dundee. I am having difficulty in tracing the speech in 1964 in Dundee. As far as I remember, and I think that I remember correctly, I was not in Dundee in 1964, and I can trace no record of this. If the hon. Gentleman will send me the cutting of my visit, real or mythical, I shall be very glad to look into it.

Mr. Doig

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the previous Conservative Government made changes to the detriment of the protection of the jute industry without the consent of both sides of the industry? The present Government have never done this; every change has been with the consent of both sides of the industry.

The Prime Minister

Yes, and I also remember that they were trying to de-schedule Dundee, and I denounced that proposal. For a development area it would have been a ridiculous policy. When this was dealt with by the House on 25th February, my hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Technology said in relation to the jute quotas which have been troubling the hon. Gentleman that both sides of the industry have acknowledged that the introduction of quotas has had no effect on the employment situation in Dundee.