HC Deb 30 March 1983 vol 40 cc336-8
14. Mr. Ancram

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when next he plans to meet the Confederation of British Industry in Scotland to discuss the recovery of Scottish industry.

17. Sir Hector Monro

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will next be meeting the Confederation of British Industry to discuss economic prospects in Scotland.

Mr. Younger

I have no plans in the immediate future to meet the Confederation of British Industry in Scotland, though, of course, I do frequently meet confederation representatives both formally and informally to discuss Scottish industrial and economic matters.

Mr. Ancram

When my right hon. Friend meets the chairman, will he discuss with him the latest survey of industrial trends, which shows clearly that Scotland is pulling out of the recession and that the Scottish economy is growing at about three times the rate of the economy of the United Kingdom as a whole? Does he agree that the only two things that can damage Scotland's chances are, first, a continuing and cynical misadvertisement by Labour Members that Scotland is an industrial wasteland and, secondly, the nonsensical and inflationary policies that were published by the Labour party yesterday?

Mr. Younger

I agree with my right hon. Friend. I believe that the CBI has already had time to make some devastating comments about the document that was produced yesterday. I noted that in the CBI's latest survey of industrial trends in Scotland it is stated that the Budget is seen as broadly favourable to industry and that the changes in North sea oil taxation are likely to be greatly beneficial to industry in Scotland generally.

Sir Hector Monro

Is my right hon. Friend aware that I had a stimulating meeting with the chairman of the CBI in Dumfries this week? Will he accept that the chairman was extremely confident that the Budget would do a very great deal for small industries and small businesses and provide much hope for the future?

Mr. Younger

I am grateful to my hon. Friend. I am not surprised that he gained that impression from the chairman of the CBI. Its survey of the latest trends shows an expected increase in output over the next four months, which is the most optimistic survey since June 1979. It expects an improvement in export order books that will be stronger than at any time over the past three years, and a decline in the rate of destocking. This shows that there are better times ahead.

Mr. Douglas

When the right hon. Gentleman next meets the Scottish CBI, will he explain the posture that he has taken on the Anderson Strathclyde takeover? Will he explain to it how his views conform with its views that we should keep decision-making centres in Scotland?

Mr. Younger

I appreciate what the hon. Gentleman says. However, by far the most important thing for us all to do now is ensure that the company has every encouragement to continue prospering and that jobs are safeguarded. I find his concern about the matter somewhat interesting, when he supported a Government who, as a matter of policy, removed from Scotland the headquarters of many firms—Colville, Stewart and Lloyd, Yarrows, Scott-Lithgow and Fairfield, for example—and placed them in London. They were all deliberately moved from Scotland to London by the Labour Government. They have that wrapped round their necks.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

Will my right hon. Friend discuss with the chairman of the CBI the possibilities that will arise out of the creation of free ports in Scotland? Does he recognise that there is a case for a free port in the Forth estuary and for more than one free port in Scotland?

Mr. Younger

I appreciate my hon. Friend's interest in free ports. As he knows, my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in the Budget statement that consideration would be given to the establishment of free ports. I am looking forward to receiving bids from places in Scotland which think they are suitable sites.

Mr. Donald Stewart

In view of the sensitivity of the Anderson Strathclyde issue, may I ask what representations the right hon. Gentleman has made to his right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the effect that he was not consulted on such a vital Scottish issue?

Mr. Younger

If the right hon. Gentleman listened to the debate he will know that my right hon. Friend made it clear that under the statute the decision is taken personally by the Minister for Trade. My hon. and learned Friend did so and he explained it to the House.

Mr. Millan

Is the right hon. Gentleman confirming that he was not even consulted about what happened? Does he accept that what happened on Friday was an example of City interests behaving in their most squalid fashion? The right hon. Gentleman, who has agreed that the takeover by Charter Consolidated is against Scotland's industrial interests, should be ashamed of himself for voting for the takeover last week.

Mr. Younger

As I said to the hon. Member for Dunfermline (Mr. Douglas), the right hon. Gentleman should think carefully before he poses as the great champion of keeping headquarters in Scotland. He has taken more of them away from Scotland than all of us put together. He should be ashamed of that. He knows his legislation well enough to be aware that under the statutes my hon. and learned Friend is obliged to take the decision himself and to take into account the views of the Director General of Fair Trading as well as those of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. My hon. and learned Friend clearly declared what he had done and the right lion. Gentleman should be aware of the procedure perfectly well. I am not taking any lectures from him about moving headquarters from Scotland. He has a black record on this score and he had better learn to live with it.