HC Deb 04 May 1983 vol 42 cc226-7
16. Mr. O'Neill

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to meet the president of the National Farmers Union of Scotland to discuss European Community aid for Scottish agriculture.

Mr. John MacKay

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my noble Friend the Minister of State often have discussions with the president and other union representatives on a wide range of matters.

Mr. O'Neill

Is the Minister aware that there is a deep sense of disappointment as a result of the Government's failure to give adequate support to the Provan report, which already has the support of many sections of the Community, not least the Community Parliament? Will he reconsider this question in the light of the disappointment that has already been expressed by those affected in Scotland?

Mr. MacKay

The Commission has acknowledged that it is its responsibility to put forward the structure proposals for a plan to help the most disadvantaged areas of the Community. If and when the Commission comes forward with proposals affecting the Highlands and Islands, we shall consider them carefully. It ill-becomes a member of the Labour party, which would take us out of the EC and deprive us of any possibility of Community aid, to suggest that we have been found wanting in our support of any EC project.

Mr. Russell Johnston

Did not the European Commission say that, if the Government were prepared to respond, it could produce a proposal within six weeks?

Mr. MacKay

That remains to be seen when the Commission produces the proposals. We have made it clear all along that we await proposals from it. It has to make the proposals, but in any case there is no money in the EC for any such schemes until 1984.

Mr. Bill Walker

Does my hon. Friend agree that one of the weaknesses of the so-called Provan report was, first, that it did not detail how the money was to be spent, and, secondly, that it excluded the highland areas of Perthshire, Angus and North Tayside?

Mr. MacKay

My hon. Friend raises one of the problems about giving aid to specially disadvantaged areas defined in broad geographic terms. The National Farmers Union is well aware of that problem and, if and when the proposal comes from the EC, one would expect that to be one of the problems that will be discussed between us.