§ 12. Mr. Alexander Fletcherasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a further statement about the prospects for the Scottish economy.
§ 17. Mr. Hendersonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the outlook for the Scottish economy for the next year.
§ Mr. William RossAs I told the hon. Member for Dunbartonshire, East (Mrs. Bain) on 15th October, the Scottish economy cannot be insulated from the general fall in the level of economic activity being experienced in all parts of the United Kingdom. The measures announced on 24th September and 31st October, together with the new jobs created as a result of oil activity and the setting up of the Scottish Development Agency, should all play their part in strengthening investment and employment in Scotland.—[Vol. 897, c. 721–2.]
§ Mr. FletcherIn the case of the Chrysler company, on which the Minister is unable to comment further today, will he take an early opportunity to warn the Scottish TUC that serious attempts are being made to create strife and hatred among Chrysler workers in Britain as part of the SNP's attempt to break up the United Kingdom?
§ Mr. RossI had something to say on these matters yesterday, and I very much deplore what was said by the SNP, as I am sure did most of the House.
§ Mr. HendersonLeaving aside the apparent coalition between the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Conservative Front Bench spokesman, will the right hon. Gentleman suggest how I should explain to unemployed workers in Scotland why there is no appropriation made for them when they see Scottish oil flowing in from the Forties Field and a situation in which Scotland is virtually now self-sufficient in oil terms?
§ Mr. RossI expected the hon. Member for Aberdeenshire, East (Mr. Henderson) to apologise for his party, which has told blatant lies about the situation in Scotland. I would remind him that 63,000 children left school at the last school leaving date and that just over 5,000 of those do not possess a job. However, that does not explain why the SNP representatives are telling the people of Scotland that there is no job for one in five of school leavers. It is time that they stopped misleading the public in Scotland and took a much more constructive view of the economy of the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. David SteelI wish to revert to my earlier comment that existing legislation does not allow Government assistance to be given to re-equip redundant factories. Will the Secretary of State give me a guarantee that if local authorities or firms come forward with sensible schemes that would be eligible for aid from the EEC Regional Fund, his Department will give them every assistance?
§ Mr. RossI do not think that that is exactly the same thing. Projects have to be submitted, and are submitted at present, by local authorities to the EEC. It is for the EEC to judge priorities. At present we are encouraging local authorities to put schemes forward, we hope with considerable success, as we did with the advance factory programme, to which a fair amount of publicity has been given.
§ Mr. BuchanIs my right hon. Friend aware of the anger in Scotland because of attempts by the Scottish National Party to drive a wedge between the workers of Scotland and those of England over the Lin wood Factory? The workers in my constituency totally reject that party's narrow, chauvinistic attitude. Nevertheless, 1519 they expect the Government to take action to prevent this disaster from happening to Scotland and also to prevent its happening to the Midlands. Is my right hon. Friend aware that one of the new developing industries in Scotland is at stake and that the money which is forthcoming should be used to acquire it in the interests of the nation?
§ Mr. RossI appreciate my hon. Friend's concern, which he knows I share. British Leyland, which had a considerable stake in Scotland, was safeguarded by the Government. We took the same attitude towards Ferranti and safeguarded its position in Scotland. Members of the Scottish National Party are so narrow, mean and miserable in their outlook that I deplore the fact that they proclaim themselves to be Scots.
§ Mr. Teddy TaylorDoes the Secretary of State agree that as unemployment is bad and likely to get worse, he should be doing everything possible to attract new jobs to Scotland? Will he say what steps he has taken in recent months and weeks and what assurances he has obtained about the programme for the transfer of 7,000 Civil Service jobs to Glasgow? Is he aware of the joint agreed statements between Government Ministers and Sir William Gray, the former Lord Provost, that a site for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office will be decided in June and that recruitment will begin this year for the Ministry of Defence? Why is the programme slipping and what is the right hon. Gentleman doing about it?
§ Mr. RossI should be grateful if detailed questions of that sort were tabled as Questions and were not wrapped up in a general question. I do not know whether the hon. Gentleman is aware that one of the main events this week is the granting of the Royal Assent to the Scottish Development Agency Bill. That will help us considerably. We could have been helped more if the Opposition had not blocked the Bill when it went to the Scottish Grand Committee. The hon. Gentleman is rather belated in his sudden concern.
During the past month there has been a considerable increase in inquiries for sites for quality jobs in Scotland, and that trend is continuing.
§ Mr. FairbairnAs the Secretary of State has raised once again the subject 1520 of the Scottish Development Agency, will he tell us from what part of Scottish industry the £3 million to be invested in it will come?