HC Deb 23 May 1973 vol 857 cc450-2
14. Mr. Strang

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider taking into public ownership those areas of land which are likely to be the most suitable for substantial developments associated with North Sea oil.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

Local authorities and other public bodies have power to buy land in advance of development in appropriate cases. I will consider any such proposals on their merits.

Mr. Strang

If the Secretary of State accepts that certain key areas of land should be developed in association with North Sea oil, surely he can best ensure and control those developments by owning the land himself. Does he not realise that, if he allows those areas to be held by private individuals or companies, they will hold to ransom Scottish firms and other firms in the way that the hon. Member for Kingston-upon-Thames (Mr. Norman Lamont) indicated in connection with Shetland? Can he give us the elementary assurance, which should not be necessary, that no Scottish Minister will have any financial interest in any of the enterprises developing on these sites?

Mr. Campbell

On the first point, I regard this as a combination, a partnership, of the local authorities and private industry. Where the Government have been able to play a part—as, for example, at Peterhead, where the Government are the harbour authority—we have acted quickly to help with oil development. But it needs private industry as well as local authorities and the Government to do the best for this emerging oil industry. As for financial interests, this matter has been taken up by the hon. Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Robert Hughes) with my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, and he will get a reply in due course.

Mr. Wolrige-Gordon

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is often as much criticism of the Secretary of State or the Government as a whole owning land and either developing or not developing as there is of private companies or local authorities?

Mr. Campbell

I recognise what my hon. Friend has to say.

Mr. Lawson

Will the right hon. Gentleman recognise that this country is in a seller's market in this matter and that we need not fall over ourselves to try to ensure that every bit of country in Scotland is developed for this purpose? Would he recognise that we cannot always trust local authorities to see that the proper thing is done? Would he remember that, when we are talking of environmental questions, we have much more in mind than mere scenic beauty, important though that may be? Would he ensure, for example, that, before dredging of some of the sea flats is permitted, proper hydrological studies are undertaken to ensure that irreparable damage is not done to our coasts?

Mr. Campbell

The hon. Gentleman has raised one of the important aspects of the development of this new industry —the effect on the environment. This is one reason why a new council is being set up on which there will be persons who have knowledge and experience of environmental matters. In certain circumstances, it can be as important to Scottish interests to protect the coastline or to protect the sea bed from dredging of the kind that he has mentioned as to have a development in that place.

Mr. William Hamilton

Will the right hon. Gentleman attach considerable urgency to the question raised in the last part of the question of my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Strang)—namely, the vested interest in oil and its development of Lord Polwarth and his family? It is important that this matter should be cleared up with the greatest urgency. It is not enough to say that we should wait for the Prime Minister's statement. We should have a statement on this matter before the recess.

Mr. Campbell

The hon. Gentleman will realise that this is not a matter with which I can deal in a supplementary question at this stage.