HC Deb 03 May 1972 vol 836 c362
3. Mr. Douglas

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his recent visit to the sites for the construction of production platforms on the Moray Firth.

The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Gordon Campbell)

I visited the site of Brown & Root/Wimpey Highland Fabricators Ltd at Nigg on the Cromarty Firth on 6th April. I was very impressed with the progress the company is making both in the construction of the yard and in the training of local labour.

Mr. Douglas

Will the right hon. Gentleman concede that we are grateful for the employment opportunities which will come into being in the North-East? However, will he visit the South-East and look at the possibility of detracting from employment opportunities regionally arising from the proposed oil terminal at Maplin?

Mr. Campbell

I take it that the hon. Gentleman is referring to the South-East of England rather than to the South-East of Scotland. I do not think that developments taking place in the Foulness area need in any way conflict with what we are proposing in Scotland.