HC Deb 24 February 1971 vol 812 cc563-5
28. Mr. Maclennan

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations he has had with the Highlands and islands Development Board concerning the development of the sporting estates in the Highlands and Islands.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

None, Sir, but sporting estates feature in the Board's first comprehensive development report on Kildonan.

Mr. Maclennan

Will the Secretary of State repudiate the Prime Minister's statement last week that the Government would not allow the Highlands and Islands Development Board concerning compulsory powers, or does he believe that his friends, the sporting landlords of the Highlands, are interested, without compulsion, in providing employment?

Mr. Campbell

No; the hon. Gentleman has completely misunderstood the point to which the Prime Minister was referring. I believe that the hon. Gentleman was in the House and will remember that the Highlands and Islands Development (Scotland) Bill, as first introduced, contained a Clause which would have given powers to take over compulsorily and run any kind of enterprise. Fortunately, the Government at that time accepted an Amendment to include the words "by agreement", which completely transformed the effect of that Clause, and said that this had been their intention. Therefore, the legislation which finally emerged was quite different from the Bill as first published.

Mr. David James

Is my right hon. Friend aware that as the trustee of a large highland sporting estate, I can tell him that for a long time we have offered the Highlands and Islands Development Board unlimited co-operation in developing sport and tourism?

Mr. Campbell

As hon. Members know, I do not myself shoot or fish—

Sir G. Nabarro

Why not?

Mr. Campbell

I am sorry to say that I am 80 per cent. disabled. But I am aware that sport can contribute to the Highlands and its economy and should be compatible with agricultural and other pursuits.

Mr. Douglas

Would the right hon. Gentleman look anew at his answer? The right hon. Gentleman the Prime Minister, in answer to a question put by my right hon. Friend the Leader of the Opposition, clearly stated that the Board would not be allowed to use its compulsory powers. Would he examine this matter, since we do not wish to have the record corrected again? This is an important point and I ask him to look at what we have said.

Mr. Campbell

I heard the Prime Minister on that occasion and I have a report of his words with me. I wish to make the record clear, because I took part in those other proceedings in the debates on that Bill when on the Opposition Front Bench. The hon. Member for Clackmannan and East Stirlingshire (Mr. Douglas) was not in the House at that time. When that was referred to outside this House as "a Marxist Measure". it was in relation to Clause 6, which at that time was an odious and obnoxious Clause, which was later changed to the satisfaction of the whole House.

Mr. Maclennan

Does the right hon. Gentleman acknowledge that the Prime Minister was not referring to powers which the Board does not enjoy but to compulsory powers which are contained in the Act? Will he give an assurance, in contradiction to what was said by the Prime Minister, that the Board will be allowed to use compulsory powers which it enjoys?

Mr. Campbell

Again the hon. Gentleman is wrong. The Prime Minister was replying to a question put by the Leader of the Opposition referring to the remark about its being a Marxist Measure.—[HON. MEMBERS: "No."] Hon. Gentlemen can look it up. I have the quotation with me. The Prime Minister was replying to a question about its being a Marxist Measure, which was a reference to Clause 6 in the Bill as it first appeared. Later in the Bill we discussed the compulsory powers. This is all on the record.

Sir G. Nabarro

Is my right hon. Friend aware that a deputation from the Highlands and Islands Development Board recently visited the Midland counties? When the Board repeats its visit, would my right hon. Friend arrange lo accompany the Board and then, after it has completed its official duties, proceed to South Worcestershire where I will offer my right hon. Friend excellent fishing, shooting, hunting and other sporting facilities?

Mr. Campbell

As I have indicated, I am afraid that they can be of little use to me but I am very much aware of the welcome the Highlands and my area of the North gave to my hon. Friend when he made a visit there recently.