§ 12. Mr. Lambieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will meet the councillors of Cunninghame district council to discuss the future of Hunterston.
§ Mr. AncramThe district council has asked for such a meeting, in a letter it sent on 8 October, about a proposed oil rig repair facility. We are considering that request.
§ Mr. LambieI am disappointed with the reply. Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the port of Hunterston is stagnating, with the Clyde Port Authority, the SSEB, British Steel and the Hunterston company all involved in the development? Is it not about time that the port of Hunterston was split from the Clyde Port Authority and a Hunterston development corporation was set up to organise the future development of the port and the industrial areas, involving organisations such as the Scottish Development Agency, Strathclyde regional council and Cunninghame district council?
§ Mr. AncramI am interested in what I can only presume is Labour party policy for that area. The reason for taking time to consider whether a meeting is necessary is that consideration is being given to a planning application relating to the area. That is obviously a matter that we shall have to take into context in considering whether a meeting is either necessary or desirable. I am sure that the hon. Gentleman appreciates that the Hunterston site is of particular value because of its deep-water access. It is also an area of high amenity that should be developed only for industries that can exploit its particular advantages and bring major benefits to the entire Scottish economy.