HC Deb 18 January 1972 vol 829 cc210-1
Q3. Mr. Strang

asked the Prime Minister what proportion of the letters he receives is from Scotland.

The Prime Minister

I have nothing to add to the answer which my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary gave on my behalf to a Question from the hon. Member on 21st December.—[Vol. 828, c. 1305-6.]

Mr. Strang

Following the discussions which the Prime Minister had recently with the Chairman of the Scottish Council, does the right hon. Gentleman now accept that we have a tragic paradox in Scotland where we see, on the one hand, an unparalleled level of unemployment and, on the other, exciting possibilities in the context of Hunterston, North Sea oil, and Oceanspan? Do the Government accept the responsibility to bring forward some bold initiative in at least one of these developments?

The Prime Minister

I had nearly two hours' discussion with a large and representative membership of the Scottish Council. The hon. Gentleman will have seen from reports in the Scottish Press the Council's views of the discussion, which showed that the Government were already considering the two very big issues that it put before us. Of course, we are looking at them very carefully. The House is constantly told of the examination which is being made of the Hunterston scheme and of the exploitation of North Sea oil. But I hope that no one will under-estimate what has accrued to Scotland already in the way of development arising out of the oil discoveries in the North Sea.

Mr. James Hamilton

Arising from the right hon. Gentleman's meeting with the Scottish Council, will there be any change in the Government's policy on investment grants? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in my constituency, within the space of an hour, a thousand people signed a message to the right hon. Gentleman protesting about unemployment? On the basis of that, is not he prepared to tell Scotland that he intends to make 1972 a good year, unlike the year which has just passed?

The Prime Minister

I gave an undertaking to the Scottish Council that not only the two major proposals that we discussed but all its detailed propositions would be considered by Government Departments, and I undertook to meet the Council again as soon as matters were resolved. I think that the Council itself announced this to the Press.