HL Deb 05 March 1969 vol 300 cc145-7

2.43 p.m.

LORD DRUMALBYN

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the prospects of using the Royal Naval Air Engineering Station at Arbroath for industrial, civilian or military purposes and of bringing employment to the area to take the place of the employment which will cease when the air station is closed down.]

THE MINISTER OF STATE, BOARD OF TRADE: (LORD BROWN)

My Lords, as mentioned in the Statement on Defence Estimates 1969, the possibility of continuing to use the Royal Naval Air Station at Arbroath for either defence or civilian use is being urgently considered. The Board of Trade will continue to bring the area to the notice of all suitable inquirers and, as an indication of our concern for this area, the noble Lord will be pleased to know that a Board of Trade factory has recently been completed in Arbroath for an engineering company.

LORD DRUMALBYN

My Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for his Answer, may I ask him whether he agrees that this is a matter of some urgency if there is not be a gap between the withdrawal of the air station and the next work that is to come along? I asked what were the prospects, and I wonder whether there is much prospect of military or Government use and, if not, if he could give some indication of whether he will do all in his power to encourage industry to come to that area?

LORD BROWN

My Lords, the final decision, although it had been foreshadowed, to vacate this air station of its present usage was made in January this year. The date of the closure for current use is, I understand, in the region of 1971–2, so that a fairly short period has elapsed since the final decision was made and there is a reasonable period before vacation takes place. I promise the noble Lord that the Board of Trade is very seriously considering the use of the air station for other purposes within the Board of Trade's own control and also that we will certainly continue to do our utmost to get alternative types of employment into this area. There is an area, I think of 30 acres, already available and zoned for industrial use, with the prospect of another 40 acres being zoned for industrial use soon. This is one of the major obstacles to getting industry to the area, and we will certainly keep our eye on the matter.

THE EARL OF DUNDEE

My Lords, is the noble Lord only speaking with regard to industrial projects for the Board of Trade or is the station also being considered by the Ministry of Defence for alternative military purposes?

LORD BROWN

There is an alternative air purpose which falls within the ambit of the decision of the Board of Trade for consideration.

THE EARL OF SELKIRK

My Lords, does the noble Lord recognise that this is a major tragedy to quite a small community? If he is seeking to find other occupants, may I ask him to try not to divert them from other areas which also urgently require employment in Scotland?

LORD BROWN

Our task in the Board of Trade is an anxious one for many areas where there is unemployment or closures. It is our job to get industries from high employment areas into these development areas, but it is not our job to divert them from one particular area of their own choice to another. We must leave it to the industry concerned, although we must at the same time make available facilities as quickly as possible. I could not undertake to make a special case for diverting would-be movers into development areas into Arbroath, but we will certainly bear in mind the needs of the area if and when this air station is closed.

LORD FERRIER

My Lords, in the light of what the Minister has just said, would he be able to assure the House that in view of the importance of this whole establishment as an entity, with workshops, recreation facilities, landing strip, residence and civilian instructors, it might serve as an auxiliary to an existing large engineering establishment elsewhere in Britain without necessarily taking manufacturing production equipment to the place?

LORD BROWN

My Lords, I can assure the noble Lord that we are deeply anxious about the future closure of this establishment and will do everything possible to use it in its present form if this is conceivably possible.