§ LORD NAPIER AND ETTRICKMy 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 plans they have for now implementing the pledge given to the Conservative Party Election Manifesto of 1970 that if returned to power they would set up the Scottish Convention as was proposed in Sir Alec Douglas-Home's Committee on Scotland's Government.]
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, SCOTTISH OFFICE (BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELIIELVIE)My Lords, as has already been made clear, the Government intend during the life of this Parliament to put forward proposals based on the proposals in the Douglas-Home Committee Report.
§ LORD NAPIER AND ETTRICKMy Lords, while I am grateful to my noble friend for that revealing reply to my Question, may I ask whether Her Majesty's Government are entirely satisfied at the formation of this body is both necessary and desirable? In their opinion do the possible advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
§ BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIEMy Lords, as I have already said, Her Majesty's Government are going to put forward proposals based on the Douglas-Home Report, including the Scottish Convention. Therefore, we think it is desirable.
§ LORD HUGHESMy Lords, Will the Minister with her right honourable friend take into consideration the possibility that this is a case where the Government would gain very much more credit in Scotland for abandoning a pledge than for carrying it out?
§ BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIEMy Lords, I think we had better wait and see the proposals in the lifetime of this Parliament.
§ LORD AVEBURY:My Lords, will the Government send Lord Pearce to Scotland to find out whether these proposals are acceptable to the people there?
§ BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIEMy Lords, these proposals were fully accepted by the Scottish Conservative Party in Scotland.
§ LORD KILMANYMy Lords, will my noble friend bear in mind that while in due course there may be much to be said for proceeding with this proposal, there are more active steps which could better be taken at the present time to help Scotland's economy than to set up this Convention?
§ BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIEMy Lords, the Government have firmy said that in any case they could not put forward these proposals on which action could be taken until after local government reform in Scotland.