§ 1 Mr. Douglasasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on current progress toward a power cost and price agreement with companies interested in acquiring an interest in the aluminium smelter at Invergordon.
§ 10. Dr. J. Dickson Mabonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a further statement on the future of the aluminium smelter at Invergordon.
§ The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. George Younger)I propose to make a statement about Invergordon to the House after Question Time.
§ Mr. Douglasrose—
§ Mr. SpeakerDoes the hon. Gentleman prefer to wait until the statement?
§ Mr. DouglasNormally I would delay a supplementary question in the hope of catching your eye later, Mr. Speaker.
§ Mr. SpeakerI shall do my best. Whenever an hon. Member says that I try to call him early among the hon. Members who are called to put supplementary questions on the statement.
§ Mr. SpeakerDoes the right hon. Gentleman wish to give up his chance of asking a question on the statement?
§ Dr. MabonNo, Mr. Speaker, but I wish to ask the Secretary of State whether he is aware that during Monday's Question Time when Energy Ministers were cross-examined about the future of Dounreay, a large question mark was raised about the future of the 1042 experimental fast-breeder reactor? If the statement is to be anything other than hopeful about the future of Invergordon, the question mark over Dounreay, the shutting down of the Fort William pulp mill at Corpach and the cancellation of the gas-gathering pipeline will all add up to very bad news for the Highlands.
§ Mr. YoungerI note what the right hon. Gentleman says. I do not think that he has read correctly the answer given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Energy.