HC Deb 02 November 1983 vol 47 cc857-8
3. Mr. Maxton

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many occasions in 1983 functions sponsored by his Department have taken place in the Crown Office building in Edinburgh, formerly the Royal high school.

Mr. Younger

Three functions sponsored by Government Departments have been held in the Crown Office buildings this year. One of these, the inaugural meeting of the Scottish Confederation of Tourism, was sponsored by my Department.

Mr. Maxton

Will the Secretary of State take this building back under his complete control, introduce a Bill in the House to provide for a Scottish assembly, and establish it within the next 12 months?

Mr. Younger

In spite of what the hon. Gentleman may think, I detect no sign that anyone in Scotland is interested in having an extra layer of Government, with extra taxes on the Scots to pay for it.

Mr. Canavan

Will the Secretary of State use the former Royal high school building to hold a special meeting of Scottish Members of Parliament to discuss the future government of Scotland? The Tory Government received no mandate from the Scottish people at the recent general election, when over 70 per cent. of Scots voted for candidates who campaigned on the basis of a manifesto containing a commitment to some measure of home rule for Scotland.

Mr. Younger

If it comes to that, the hon. Gentleman's party is miles away from having a mandate from the people of Scotland. At the last election it lost no fewer than 250,000 votes from people who previously supported it. A little decent reticence from the hon. Gentleman in the face of that record would not come amiss.

Mr. Fairbairn

As the building is unused and unnecessary, and as devolution is dead, will my right hon. Friend sell it and put it to proper use, because it is a good building and at present it is being put to no good use?

Mr. Younger

I agree with my hon. and learned Friend that it is a fine building. It is being made good use of by my right hon. and noble Friend the Lord Advocate and his staff. Moreover, it is appreciated by all Scottish Members as being available for sittings of the Scottish Select Committee and the Scottish Grand Committee from time to time.

Mr. Dewar

Will the Secretary of State reconsider his rather blank response on this issue, because there is abundant evidence — it was apparent during the last election and is shown in public opinion polls—that there is a continuing interest in Scotland in devolution, and meetings of the Scottish Grand Committee in Edinburgh, useful though they may be, cannot be a substitute for that devolution? Is the right hon. Gentleman really saying that his Government are implacably and utterly opposed to any progress on this issue?

Mr. Younger

I welcome the hon. Gentleman to the Front Bench and congratulate him on his appointment. Let me put to him two points on this issue. First, I do not detect any great interest in Scotland for an extra layer of Government, an extra assembly, and extra costs on the people of Scotland to pay for it. He should reflect on that. I ask him, with respect, in his new responsibility, to reflect on the second of my two points, which is that everyone knows that there is a grave division of opinion in his party on the matter and that it is highly unlikely that any future Labour Government would be able to deliver any such thing.