§ 2. Mr. Bill Walkerasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to review the assisted area status of the Blairgowrie Pitlochry Aberfeldy travel-towork area.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Ian Lang)My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans to do so.
§ Mr. WalkerDoes my hon. Friend agree that, if it is to be accepted, regional policy must be seen to be fair and sensible? Does my hon. Friend think that it is sensible to describe Aberfeldy, Pitlochry and Blairgowrie as a travel-to-work area when it is neither viable nor sensible to travel on those roads in the winter every day? It cannot be done. Since male unemployment in Blairgowrie has been around and over 20 per cent. since 1978, which is higher than the unemployment in Dundee, will my hon. Friend tell me why that can be said to be fair? What does he propose to do about it?
§ Mr. LangMy hon. Friend campaigns on this matter with commendable persistence. I am sure he will be aware that a number of possible arrangements were considered 296 when the travel-to-work areas were established. As the system is only two years old, I think he will accept that there is a need for a period of stability before undertaking changes to the system.