HC Deb 08 April 1970 vol 799 cc539-41
33. Mr. Edward M. Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total expenditure of his Department in the United Kingdom in 1969; and what percentage of this total was spent in Scotland.

Mr. John Morris

Figures are available only for financial years. In 1968–69 about 88 per cent. of the defence budget was spent in the United Kingdom. Of this proportion approximately 7 per cent. was spent in Scotland.

Mr. Edward M. Taylor

Is this percentage not disturbingly low? Will the hon. Gentleman take steps to review his Navy building programme, observing that five years ago four shipyards in the Upper Clyde were building naval frigates whereas at present the figure is only one?

Mr. Morris

I am sure the hon. Member knows that Scotland benefits generally from our development area policies. I hope he will tell the people of Scotland that if the Tories come to power they will wreck our development area policy. I am glad he has mentioned the naval programme. Of course, some of the development areas are able to produce certain articles on a much higher scale than others. As regards naval shipbuilding, the hon. Gentleman knows that the share which goes to Scotland is high.

Mr. William Hamilton

Is my hon. Friend aware that if the Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Edward M. Taylor) had been here when we were debating the Navy Estimates, he would have heard me quote figures which gave a favourable impression of the contribution which my hon. Friend's Department is making to the progress of naval shipbuilding in Scottish yards?

Mr. Morris

I cannot answer for the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Edward M. Taylor), whether he was here or not, but the figures of naval shipbuilding for 1966–67 show that almost 20 per cent. of our orders were placed in Scotland, in the following year they came down to less than 1 per cent., and in 1968–69 they went up to 64 per cent. The figures fluctuate because it depends on the number of orders actually placed in one year, but generally I have done my utmost to increase the share of our contracts placed in development areas. Perhaps the hon. Gentleman read my article only last week in the Glasgow Herald which sought to encourage Scottish industry to avail itself of the opportunities.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

While the Minister is mainly concerned with defence matters—and I recognise that he was in the Cairngorms only a few days ago—does he realise that he has completely misrepresented and is quite wrong about Conservative development policy, which will have the effect of bringing a great many more jobs to Scotland with the money now being spent?

Mr. Morris

I know that the hon. Gentleman and his hon. Friends have a guilt complex as regards their plans to wreck our development area policy. They will have to answer for this at a General Election.

Mr. Edward M. Taylor

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of that answer, I shall seek leave to raise this matter on the Adjournment.