§ 1. Mr. Eadieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what reply he has sent to the Livingston Advisory Committee's request to meet him.
§ The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Gordon Campbell)The reply sent to the Midlothian and West Lothian Joint Planning Advisory Committee explained why the new special development area was confined to West Central Scotland and the basis on which, as an exceptional measure, Livingston new town was being considered for possible special development area status. It indicated also that these explanations made a meeting unnecessary.
§ Mr. EadieThe Secretary of State's decision not to meet the Livingston Advisory Committee will be regarded as an insult to responsible elected people in that area. Notwithstanding the reasons which he has given for his decision, does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that in the new town of Livingston we have serious unemployment problems now—in fact, the unemployment rate is 18 per cent. of the male population—and will he reconsider his decision, for I am sure that the committee has something to say to him which would be helpful?
§ Mr. CampbellI hope that there will be no misunderstanding about my reply, which stated the position in a constructive way. Discussions about the status of the new town are going on at this moment, so I cannot add much at this stage, but I certainly do not wish people 420 to misunderstand my attitude on the matter at all.
§ Mr. DalyellShould not Livingston be treated as overspill?
§ Mr. CampbellLivingston was originally set up as a new town in order to assist with Glasgow overspill. It is upon the degree to which it is able to help West Central Scotland that its status as a special development area may depend.