§ Q2. Mr. Sillarsasked the Prime Minister if he will make an official visit to West Aberdeenshire.
§ The Prime MinisterI have no immediate plans to do so, Sir.
§ Mr. SillarsIs the Prime Minister aware that his hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Aberdeenshire, West (Lt.-Col. Mitchell) said on television immediately after the Conservative victory at the election that the Tories would save the Argylls? Will he explain how he will set about saving the Argylls, and, before he answers, will the right hon. Gentleman take note of the election results in Scotland in which the Scottish people accorded the Labour Government's investment grant system higher priority than saving the Argylls?
§ The Prime MinisterOur position as regards that regiment was made plain on 15th July, 1968, when we were in Opposition. We are now examining the rundown of units.
§ Mr. HealeyBut is it not a fact that the Conservatives gave the whole country the impression that they would preserve the Argylls as a regular battalion, but if they propose, as is widely rumoured in the Press, simply to attach the name to a scratch group of irregulars in a drill hall, will not this be regarded by the people of Britain as typical of the Government's attitude to all their election pledges?
§ The Prime MinisterPerhaps the right hon. Gentleman had better await the statement.
§ Mr. RossThe right hon. Gentleman is being a little coy. He will be in West Aberdeenshire. If he stops off on his way either to or from Balmoral, will he tell the people of West Aberdeenshire that he still has an interest in Inverurie rather than in a lingering and prolonged tradition of military regiments from Inveraray?
§ The Prime MinisterIf the right hon. Gentleman, when Secretary of State, had paid more attention to both, he might, perhaps, have been more successful.