§ 9. Mr. Wallaceasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects Northern Ireland to be in receipt of the first tranche of promised American financial aid; and what are his priorities for its use.
§ Mr. ScottLegislation providing for United States assistance to both parts of Ireland is before Congress. I am not in a position to speculate when a Bill will become law or to what use any assistance might be put.
§ Mr. WallaceWith unemployment in Northern Ireland running at more than 20 per cent., does the Minister agree that the first priority for any additional funds must be the creation of jobs, not through De Lorean-type fiascos, but through investment in small businesses and infrastructure projects? Will he give the House some idea of the total amount expected to be gathered from American aid?
§ Mr. ScottI think that it would be premature to speculate about the amount. A number of proposals have been put either to the House of Representatives or to the Senate. Until we see the size of the amounts involved, it is probably wrong to start making plans to spend the money, but I have considerable sympathy with the hon. Gentleman's suggestion that one of the top priorities for any money that may come through should be the creation of jobs.
§ Mr. BudgenIs my hon. Friend aware that many people regard such aid not as generous but as patronising, ignorant and biased? Has he any proposals to offer advice or aid to the Americans in terms of how they might deal with the appalling problems of their inner cities?
§ Mr. ScottThe short answer to that is no, Sir, but I am sure that if the Americans came to us for advice we would freely give it. Let me make it clear that we entered into the agreement on its merits. There was no question of the United States, or the promise of United States aid, playing any part in the decision of the Government of the United Kingdom to enter into the agreement. Nevertheless, we are grateful to the United States for wishing to acknowledge, and to make a tangible display of acknowledging, the desire of the Governments of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland to work towards peace and stability in Northern Ireland. The final decisions will, of course, have to await the passage of legislation through Congress.
§ Mr. MallonMay I ask the Minister to consider patronising the constituency of Newry and Armagh when the aid becomes available? We would have no objection to that at all.
Does not inward investment into Northern Ireland become very difficult when a Government Department responsible for Government training schemes is presiding over a system in which, out of 116 senior posts, 16 are held by Catholics? Will the Minister ask the Fair Employment Agency to initiate an immediate investigation of that matter so that people who want to invest money in the north of Ireland will not have to look at that sort of thing?
§ Mr. ScottMy hon. Friends will have heard about the matter raised in the second part of the question and will no doubt consider the situation. I note the hon. 1061 Gentleman's first question, but until we know whether there is to be a fund and how big it will be it is impossible to speculate about the uses to which it might be put.
§ Mr. ChapmanIf, and when, the money comes, will my hon. Friend seriously consider using at least a part of it to mount a publicity campaign to attract industry and jobs to the Province under the slogan, "Come, make your place of work in Northern Ireland. There is far less lawlessness here than there is in the United States"?
§ Mr. ScottThe Industrial Development Board, in particular, has for some time been conducting a sustained publicity campaign in Great Britain and the United States, clearly pointing out the attractions of Northern Ireland for potential inward investment and paying special attention to the overwhelming normality that is the reality of life for most people in the Province.