HC Deb 04 July 1972 vol 840 cc239-40
Q3. Mr. Milne

asked the Prime Minister if he will make an official visit to South-East Northumberland.

The Prime Minister

I have at present no plans to do so.

Mr. Milne

Is the Prime Minister aware that he has not treated this Question with the seriousness it deserves? Having recently appointed a Minister to be responsible for the development areas and having seen how little has been done since that appointment, it is necessary for the Prime Minister to keep a check on his appointments. Does he recollect that as President of the Board of Trade in 1963 he claimed that the area already had too many job prospects and that we were shouting too loud in the North-East? We are still shouting, and we want an answer.

The Prime Minister

I never declared that the North-East had too many job prospects. I said that certain areas in the North-East at that time—I recall particularly Darlington—had said that as far as they were immediately concerned they were coping with as much fresh industry as they could cope with. But from the point of view of the hon. Gentleman's area obviously more industry is required, and encouragement is being given to it. It is a little ungracious to accuse my right hon. Friend of not having flooded the North-East with industry and people working in new factories as soon as he took office.

Mr. R. W. Elliott

Does my right hon. Friend appreciate that in the North-East it is generally realised that the present Government have given the greatest possible attention to the region and that we are extremely grateful for the consideration given to our particular problems?

The Prime Minister

I think that is right, because having been intimately concerned with the North-East in 1963–64 I have retained many contacts there and this, I believe, is the view in the North-East.

Mr. Robert C. Brown

Will the Prime Minister seriously reconsider his original reply? If he visits South-East Northumberland, when he drives from Newcastle airport he will pass an excellent site at Kenton Bar which has been left idle and empty because of his doctrinaire decision to abolish the Land Commission. This site would make a first-class headquarters for the proposed British Gas Corporation. Will the right hon. Gentleman bear that in mind?

The Prime Minister

That is at least a constructive proposal, which I have noted.