HC Deb 29 April 1975 vol 891 cc228-9
Q2. Mr. William Hamilton

asked the Prime Minister if the public speech made by the Secretary of State for Industry in Glasgow on 13th April on regional policy and the EEC represents governmental policy.

Mr. Edward Short

I have been asked to reply.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hemsworth (Mr. Woodall) on 17th April.

Mr. Hamilton

Will my right hon. Friend make sure that the Prime Minister asks those Ministers who disagree with official Government policy to make it clear that when they are making speeches in the country they are making personal statements and not governmental statements? Is he aware that these speeches run counter to everything that is coming officially from the Scottish Office on regional policies in that the Scottish Office has specifically stated, and Ministers have stated officially in the House, that none of our regional policies will in any way be inhibited by our continued membership of the EEC?

Mr. Short

I confirm my hon. Friend's last point. That, indeed, is the case. On his first point on the right to put the contrary point of view in the country, that is exactly what the right to dissent means. It means that and nothing more than that. It is simply the right to put the contrary point of view in speeches in the country.

Mr. Marten

Will the Government make it clear to the country before the referendum that the much-vaunted benefits of regional aid will amount to only£20 million a year net for three years, no more and no less?

Mr. Short

That is not the point that was being made by my hon. Friend the Member for Fife, Central (Mr. Hamilton). My hon. Friend was making the point that our own regional policies will not be inhibited in any way. That, indeed, is the case.