HC Deb 24 February 1982 vol 18 cc842-3
2. Mr. Lambie

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what request he has received from Cunninghame district council for a meeting with him; what reply he has sent; and if he will make a statement.

The Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Alexander Fletcher)

My right hon. Friend shares Cunninghame district council's concern about unemployment in the district and has agreed to its request for him to meet a delegation on 17 March.

Mr. Lambie

I thank the Minister for that reply. He knows that one of the questions that the district council will wish to raise with the Secretary of State is the future of the Scotboard factory at Irvine. Will he confirm that a party from the People's Republic of China recently visited the chipboard factory at Irvine with a view to inspecting and purchasing the machinery? Is Caberboard, the company that the Government are pushing, more concerned with asset-stripping than with providing work for the many unemployed in Irvine?

Mr. Fletcher

A company that is not Chinese is distinctly interested in the Scotboard premises to create new products and jobs in Ayrshire. Details are still being finalised. I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will be among the first to welcome the project if, as we believe, it gets off the ground in the near future.

Mr. Corrie

rose—

Mr. Speaker

Order. I thought that this was a constituency question. Does it involve the hon. Gentleman's constituency?

Mr. Corrie

Yes, Mr. Speaker. When my right hon. Friend meets representatives of the Cunninghame district council, will he discuss with them the possibility of including ASSET—the Ardrossan, Saltcoats, Stevenson Enterprise Team—in the new enterprise allowance scheme? Is he aware that there are three pilot schemes in operation in England, but as yet there is not one in Scotland? Surely ASSET would be ideal.

Mr. Fletcher

We are following closely the success of the pilot schemes in England. As soon as we have evidence that they are working well, as we expect, we shall be happy to take the earliest opportunity to introduce such a scheme in Scotland.

Forward to