§ Q5. Mr. James Hamiltonasked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement on the meeting he had with the Scottish Council (Development and Industry) on Thursday 13th January.
§ Q9. Mr. Dalyellasked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his meeting with the Scottish Council (Development and Industry).
§ The Prime MinisterI would refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 20th January to a Question from the hon. Member for Rutherglen (Mr. Gregor Mackenzie).—[Vol. 829, c. 250.]
§ Mr. HamiltonWill the Prime Minister recognise that I heard and read the reply to which he has just referred? Will he recognise also that we appreciate the announcement yesterday about the iron ore terminal? However, will he consider what Lord Melchett said about the terminal being a necessity for the continuation of the existing steel industry in Scotland and that that in itself is not a solution to the Scottish problem? The right hon. Gentleman has referred to his meeting with the Scottish Council, at which its representative put forward certain proposals. Will he make a categorical statement on those proposals and tell us, either now or in the forthcoming Budget Statement, that the Government have changed their policy on investment grants?
§ The Prime MinisterI told the Scottish Council that each of its points would be examined. The deep water terminal at Hunterston was one of them, and an announcement has been made. In the future, it has great importance as a deep water port, and not only as an ore terminal.
§ Mr. DalyellDo the urban conservation schemes which have been put to the Prime Minister and the employment that they would provide have his support?
§ The Prime MinisterI know that the hon. Gentleman has an interest in urban conservation, especially in terms of 237 historic buildings, and I believe that he is to meet my hon. Friend to have further discussions about this matter. I do not under-estimate the importance of this in its own right, quite apart from providing employment. However, the housing improvement grant arrangements provide much more employment in the construction industry, and certainly advantage is being taken of them.
§ Mr. BuchanWill the Prime Minister now take the opportunity to pay tribute also to the workers of the Upper Clyde and Plessey who, despite the actions of his Government, have preserved jobs and industry in Scotland? Will the right hon. Gentleman also make it clear that if any offer is made for the fourth yard on Clydeside, finance will come from his Government over and above the Local Employments Acts finance?
§ The Prime MinisterI said when I met the shop stewards, in the early stages of the U.C.S. problem, that the Government were determined to provide employment on the Upper Clyde in a viable shipbuilding industry. They have known that all along. From the point of view of future industry in Scotland, I am sure that the best results could be achieved by co-operation between unions and employers.