HC Deb 28 January 1976 vol 904 cc424-5
38. Mr. Crawford

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next proposes to meet the EEC Commissioner with responsibility for regional development.

Mr. Hattersley

My right hon. Friend meets Mr. George Thomson regularly in the course of Community business. He most recently did so during his visit to Brussels for the Council of Ministers on 20th January.

He has no firm plans for a further meeting, but he expects to meet Mr. Thomson again soon.

Mr. Crawford

Will the right hon. Gentleman leave the EEC Regional Affairs Commissioner in absolutely no doubt that the Scottish Assembly with powers over trade and industry will retain control over and administration of industrial investment incentives in Scotland, free from EEC diktat? Will he also make clear that a self-governing Scotland will construct its own system of industrial aids and incentives free from EEC interference?

Mr. Hattersley

That is not so much a question as a statement of a number of prejudices most of which will not be fulfilled.

Mr. James Lamond

Has my right hon. Friend noticed that of the assistance to development areas which has already been allocated from the EEC 50 per cent. has been allocated to Scotland? Is this not another example of Scotland's advantageous position and is it not time that the people of Scotland were told very clearly of the advantage which exists through remaining a part of the United Kingdom?

Mr. Hattersley

I have no doubt as to the truth of the implication of that supplementary question, but my task is not so much to underline the wisdom of the Government's attitude on the relationship between the various parts of the United Kingdom as to emphasise the other implication of what my hon. Friend says, which is the very substantial benefits that all the United Kingdom gets from membership of the EEC.

Mr. Sproat

Will the right hon. Gentleman continue to rebut robustly the parochial, petty and ignorant accusations made by the Scottish National Party? Will he remind the House that this very morning the United Kingdom received funds from the EEC over 20 per cent. of which went to Scotland although Scotland has under 10 per cent. of the population?

Mr. Hattersley

I can rebut the ignorant propositions of the Scottish National Party only when they concern foreign affairs.