HC Deb 30 March 1983 vol 40 cc329-30
5. Mr. McQuarrie

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to alleviate unemployment in the engineering and fish processing factories in Fraserburgh and Peterhead.

Mr. Alexander Fletcher

A wide range of incentives are available for industrial development. These include tax incentives, schemes to back innovation in product development and numerous measures to assist small firms. Moreover, the fish processing industry may be eligible for grant support from the European Community under its FEOGA provisions.

Mr. McQuarrie

That is a most unsatisfactory reply. Is my hon. Friend aware that 26.1 per cent. of the employable male workers in Fraserburgh are unemployed and that in the fish processing factories shifts are being laid off because there is no work for them? With the greatest respect to my hon. Friend, the facilities may be available, but they are not being used. Will he instruct his officials to do something in my constituency so that we can have action rather than words?

Mr. Fletcher

My hon. Friend is aware that action is being taken in his constituency, and I have to disagree with him about the FEOGA grants, because considerable sums are being invested in fish processing. For example, during 1982–83 applications for grants from FEOGA involved planned expenditure in Scotland of £10.5 million.

Mr. Myles

Is my hon. Friend aware that, just along the coast from Fraserburgh, in the town of Buckie, a fishing boat building yard, after being closed for two years, has reopened with orders for new vessels, and also that two fish processors in that town, Cox Fish and Moray Fish, are each taking on 50 or 60 extra employees?

Mr. Fletcher

It would seem that my hon. Friend's constituents are faster on the draw than the constituents of my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeenshire, East (Mr. McQuarrie).

Mr. Robert Hughes

Is the Minister aware that just along the coast, in the other direction from Buckie, the Government's settlement of the common fisheries policy has done nothing to help fishermen and that throughout the whole of the north east of Scotland there is great dismay, shared by the hon. Member for Aberdeenshire, East (Mr. McQuarrie), over the disgraceful way in which the Government have treated the economy of the Grampian region?

Mr. Fletcher

I am rather confused about the question. However, the fishermen fully supported the agreement reached with the assistance of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Mr. McQuarrie

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of that reply I beg to give notice that I shall seek to raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.