Western Isles

HC Deb 14 July 1971 vol 821 cc487-8

31. Mr. Donald Stewart

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are his plans for reducing unemployment in the Western Isles.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

The Highlands and Islands Development Board is ready at all times to assist viable projects which can create jobs, and the county councils concerned may now propose projects in the Western Isles for inclusion in the additional public works programme I announced yesterday.

Mr. Stewart

I thank the right hon. Gentleman in part for that reply, but may I again draw his attention to the fact that mine is the constituency with the worst unemployment figures in the whole of Britain, with continuing high emigration, appallingly high freight rate charges which he recently approved, and anxiety about what may happen to fishing if Britain enters the Common Market? Is he aware that the situation justifies a more urgent and extensive programme than the one he has outlined?

Mr. Campbell

I am aware of the special difficulties of the Western Isles. Work on the expansion of the Hebrides rocket range is under way, and the contract, worth between £4 million and £5 million, has, I am glad to say, gone to a Scottish firm. Most of the increase in freight rates was, unfortunately, due to the 16 per cent. increase in seamen's wages agreed last April.

Mr. Russell Johnston

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the failure of the Highlands and Islands Development Board in the Inner and Outer Hebrides, in Inverness-shire, Ross-shire and Argyll has been shameful in the last six years? Will he consider giving a directive to the Board urgently to bring forward proposals to do something about the unemployment which has lasted over these years and the emigration, which I am sure the census will show has been pretty disastrous?

Mr. Campbell

I think that the hon. Gentleman is criticising the work of the Highlands and Islands Development Board over the past six years. The Board has had a difficult job to do, but I have every confidence in it and I will do all I can to encourage it in its work.

Mr. Maclennan

What reply has the right hon. Gentleman made to the proposal contained in the successive reports of the Highlands and Islands Development Board that the freight routes to the Western Isles should be treated for grant purposes like trunk roads and be given a 100 per cent. grant? Has he responded positively to that suggestion?

Mr. Campbell

I responded three or four weeks ago when I visited Orkney and Shetland by making an announcement about the direct routes to those islands from the mainland.