§ 18. Mr. Reidasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will pay an official visit to Clackmannan district.
§ Mr. MillanMy right hon. Friend has no plans at present to do so.
§ Mr. ReidDoes not the right hon. Gentleman consider that the recession in the textile industry, which has hit Clackmannan with particular ferocity, justifies a visit by the Secretary of State to the area? Will he institute an investigation into the circumstances of the closure of Magee's clothing factory at Tillicoultry, a company which has received considerable Government funds? Will he use his good offices with the SDA to ensure that it gives a favourable hearing to the Central Region's plea for four advance factories of 10,000 sq. ft.?
§ Mr. MillanThe Magee factory is not a Government responsibility, but what happened was extremely unfortunate, to put it mildly. We told the firm that if it wished to continue in the area and move to another factory, we should sympathetically consider giving financial 1303 assistance, but the firm decided to move. I shall draw the attention of the SDA to what the hon. Gentleman said. The SNP spends a great deal of time disparaging the SDA, but when it comes to a constituency problem it is anxious to obtain all the help it can from the SDA.
§ Mr. BuchanIf my right hon. Friend decides to go to Clackmannan, will he ask the hon. Gentleman to amplify his threat that if the Shetlands seek any share of the oil revenues the SNP will invoke international law to prevent them from getting it? The relevant reference is the Falkirk Herald of 17th January.
§ Mr. MillanI should not like to see the Shetlanders let loose on the SNP. It would be a rather bloody sight.