Scotland (Hansard, 20 October 1975)

§ 5. Mr. Canavan
asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list his remaining functions in respect of the development of industry in Scotland.

§ Mr. Gregor Mackenzie
My right hon. Friend retains responsibility in Great Britain for general and sectoral industrial policy, industrial research and development, and certain aspects of regional industrial policy, as well as statutory responsibility for the British Steel Corporation, the Post Office and, once it is established, the National Enterprise Board. In carrying out these responsibilities as they affect Scotland, he will continue to consult my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

§ Mr. Canavan
As it was the Department of Industry that arranged the £1.2 million loan to the Scottish Daily News, is it not possible for my hon. Friend to have urgent discussions with my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Prime Minister to reconsider the Government's attitude towards the possibility of future help for that newspaper, whose survival is necessary to save 531 jobs and to preserve some freedom of expression in the Scottish Press, which is at present dominated by Right-wing Press barons such as Lord Thomson, D. C. Thomson and Sir Hugh Fraser?

§ Mr. Mackenzie
My hon. Friend's question about the Scottish Daily News is one for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland. I understand, from what I have read, that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is due to meet representatives of the Scottish Daily News.

§ Mrs. Bain
Does the Minister accept that central control over public expenditure and industrial policy is so loose that he has nothing to fear from transferring his remaining powers to the Scottish Assembly?

§ Mr. Mackenzie
I told the hon. Lady earlier that she must contain herself in patience, and wait until we see a White Paper about the Scottish Assembly.

§ Mr. Dalyell
May we have an assurance that the Department of Industry will fight in Cabinet against any proposal, such as the one that has been leaked, that a Scottish Assembly will have power to leavy a supplemental value added tax? Will my hon. Friend fight against any kind of supplemental value added tax?

§ Mr. Mackenzie
My right hon. Friend will have heard my hon. Friend's comments.