§ Q8. Mr. Bruce-Gardyneasked the Prime Minister if he will make an official visit to Dundee before the end of the present Parliament.
§ The Prime MinisterI have no plans to do so at present, Sir.
§ Mr. Bruce-GardyneIn that case would the Prime Minister consider inviting to Downing Street all those workers in the jute industry in Scotland who have lost their jobs in the past year—more than 1,000—so that he can explain what he meant when he came to Dundee in 1964, before the 1964 General Election, and told them that jute jobs would be safe under Labour?
§ The Prime MinisterI was attacking the decisions of the then Government, one of which was their attempt—which we from the Opposition Bench fought—to deschedule Dundee, which we shall not do, as a development area. The second was their willingness to wreck the future of the jute industry by what they were then proposing, which we opposed. The hon. Member will be glad to have seen that as a result of our administration unemployment in Dundee in February was 3.9 per cent., which is less than the average for Scotland and a great deal less than it was in 1963 when his party was in office.
§ Mr. MaudlingWas the Prime Minister's undertaking to the jute workers a lightly-given promise or a pledge?
§ The Prime MinisterThe right hon. Gentleman, whose own—[HON. MEMBERS: "Answer."]—responsibility for jute was not very distinguished, will, if he continues to study the matter, realise that as a result of industrial change in that area, jute firms have now been turning over to woven polypropylene fabrics. If right hon. Gentlemen opposite want to go on living in the past they are entitled to do so, but Dundee does not, and current jobs in prospect in Dundee for the jute workers amount to over 900.
§ Mr. PeytonDoes the Prime Minister really think that he has answered my right hon. Friend's Question? Does he really think that he has explained the difference—which we have all been trying to find out for a long time—in the Prime Minister's mind between a promise and a pledge?
§ The Prime MinisterThis is a matter to which I gave considerable research. When I recall right hon. Gentlemen opposite—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. If hon. Members ask a question they must listen to the answer.
§ The Prime MinisterI recall that right hon. Gentlemen opposite in answer to a question by Mr. Aneurin Bevan gave a solemn pledge that they would never introduce the Rent Act.
§ Mr. McNamaraWould my right hon. Friend agree that the jobs of the jute workers, or any other workers in this country, depend upon our having a sound economy and that this is one pledge on Which we fought two elections and something which we have achieved, with considerable skill?
§ The Prime MinisterBut for what we have done in Scotland the situation would have been a great deal worse. Everyone in Scotland will recognise that the policy of right hon. Gentlemen opposite of abolishing investment grants would be fatal to Scotland's economy. Even more so would be the intervention of the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition, condemning almost every new industrial plant which we have brought to Scotland.
§ Mr. Bruce-GardyneIn view of the failure by the Prime Minister to answer this Question, I beg to give notice that I shall seek to raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.