§ 22. Dr. John A. Cunninghamasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is now in a position to announce a decision on the relocation of the Laboratory of the Government Chemist ; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. OnslowNot yet, Sir.
§ Dr. CunninghamIn view of the Secretary of State's assurance to the House during the debate on the Hardman Report that this relocation was being given serious consideration, will the hon. Gentleman now assure me that the remoteness of Cumberland will not be given by his Department as an excuse for siting the laboratory elsewhere? Does he not realise that, if the Government's stated intentions about industrial development in the area are to mean anything, they should set an example to industrialists by sending a Government Department to it? If they do not, their statements about industrial development there will sound rather hollow.
§ Mr. OnslowWithout going into the hon. Gentleman's general point, I acknowledge that he has put the case for West Cumberland very fully in his meetings with my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, Central (Mr. Anthony Grant). I hope he will also recognise, however, that any decision, if it is to be right, must take into account the special operational requirements of the laboratory, which provides 1196 a unique advisory and experimental service, the needs of client Departments and the views of the staff and all other interested parties.