§ Q6. Mr. Douglasasked the Prime Minister if he will arrange to meet the members of the Scottish Economic Planning Council on his next visit to Scotland.
§ The Prime MinisterI will certainly consider this suggestion when the membership of the new Scottish Economic Council has been settled.
§ Mr. DouglasI thank the right hon. Gentleman for his interesting reply. Does he accept that the result of the Government's economic policies for Scotland have been immediately disastrous and that he has the responsibility of telling the people of Scotland as soon as he can when they might expect alleviation of the current economic position, whether it be in days, weeks, or months—or must we await the return of a Labour Government?
§ The Prime MinisterAs the people of Scotland have learnt, under the Labour Government, from 1966 to 1970, the number of employed fell by 82,000. My right hon. Friend announced at the end of last week that West Central Scotland will in future have the advantages of special development area status.
§ Mr. MaclennanWhile I recognise that the incompetence of the Government made these special measures necessary for Central Scotland, does the Prime Minister realise that they amount to the complete abnegation of economic planning and put considerable burdens and difficulties on other parts of Scotland? What will he do about that?
§ The Prime MinisterIf the hon. Gentleman is suggesting that he does not want this area to have special status, he had better say so quite plainly. Alternatively, he is asking that every area in the country should have exactly the same treatment, and that is obviously not a sensible way of treating the special problems of a special area.
§ Mr. William HamiltonDoes that reply mean that the Government are reverting to the policy of special growth points as distinct from development areas?
§ The Prime MinisterIt has always been the policy of the present Government and my party to concentrate resources where they are most needed, and, as this has now become necessary in West Central Scotland, we propose to do so.
§ Mr. Harold WilsonFollowing the question by my hon. Friend the Member for Caithness and Sutherland (Mr. Maclennan), does the right hon. Gentleman recall the Opposition spokesman in those days opposing the Highlands and Islands Development Board, which has done so much for those areas, as "pure Marxism"? Is the right hon. Gentleman as part of his policies for Scotland continuing that "Marxism"?
§ The Prime MinisterAs the right hon. Gentleman will know if he refreshes his memory, there were particular parts of that Bill regarding the powers of compulsory purchase given to the Highlands and Islands Development Board to which, quite rightly, we took exception. My right hon. Friend, as the Leader of the Opposition knows, is proposing to continue with that Board but not to use the powers to which we object.
§ Mr. RossIs the Prime Minister suggesting that the announcement which was made unexpectedly last week, in advance of the announcement on Rolls-Royce, will have any effect this year on a situation which was already serious and has been aggravated by Government decisions?
§ The Prime MinisterWe hope that it will have an impact on this area as early as industrialists can be persuaded to accept the special advantages and to build factories.