HL Deb 03 July 1972 vol 332 cc1150-2

2.51 p.m.

THE EARL OF MANSFIELD

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 steps they will take to provide help and information for companies requiring sites of unusual size or specification for the purpose of building new factories in Scotland.

THE MINISTER OF STATE, SCOTTISH OFFICE (LORD POLWARTH)

My Lords, my Department, in co-operation with the Department of Trade and Industry, local planning authorities, the New Town Development Corporations and the Scottish Council (Development and Industry) maintains a comprehensive register of information about sites throughout Scotland suitable for industrial development; and this information is readily available to any companies requiring it.

THE EARL OF MANSFIELD

My Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether he is aware that the Michelin Tyre Company have recently, in effect, been refused planning permission to establish a factory which would have created 500 new jobs just outside the burgh boundary of Perth, basically because the proposed site concealed interesting but so far undisclosed archæological remains? Secondly, is he aware that this decision, no doubt proper in itself, has caused considerable dismay in a locality where unemployment has gone up by just over 50 per cent. in two years?

Thirdly, would my noble friend use his best endeavours to throw the net somewhat wider than it has been before, so that this particular company are given the widest opportunity of establishing their factory, if possible, in the same locality?

LORD POLWARTH

My Lords, the Secretary of State in his letter to the county clerk of Perth communicating the decision upheld the objections on grounds of planning and amenity as well as those of archaeological concern. With regard to the potential loss of 500 jobs, this cannot be said to be definitely the case. The Michelin Company had taken no definite decision to develop on the Huntingtower site, and indeed had plans which might have extended some two years ahead before starting on any site. Secondly, the reporter to the inquiry found that an alternative site in Perth, within a short distance, appeared on the face of it to be suitable for the building concerned. Her Majesty's Government have offered every possible assistance towards finding an alternative location, which we are convinced should prove possible.

LORD HUGHES

My Lords, the Minister stated in his reply to the original Question that various bodies, including his own Department, the Development Department, the Scottish Council and so on, had a list of sites which was made available to industry considering coming in. May I ask him whether the Hunting-tower site was one of those which was indicated as being available?

LORD POLWARTH

My Lords, I require notice of that question. To the best of my knowledge it was not one of those on the register, but I should require notice to give the noble Lord a definite answer.

LORD HOY

My Lords, while we on this side like to preserve amenity so far, as is humanly possible, in view of the fact that another 7,000 jobs are threatened in the steel industry in Scotland is it not important that when we have an opportunity of providing 500 new jobs we should lean a little the other way to provide them for the Scottish workers?

LORD POLWARTH

My Lords, I entirely agree that we should do all within reason to provide facilities for the provision of more jobs but, as I pointed out a little earlier, this was a tentative inquiry. The jobs were some distance in the future. An alternative site very close to that sought is available, and there are others in the neighbourhood. In the circumstances, I am sure your Lordships will agree that however important the provision of jobs is—and it is deeply important—it should not be the sole consideration in approving whether or not a particular site should be made available to a particular company.

LORD HUGHES

My Lords, while accepting the proviso which the Minister made towards the end of that reply, if it should turn out that, contrary to what the reporter thought, there was no other suitable alternative site in the district for the Michelin Company, will the Government, at the end of the day, still prefer the preservation of some undisclosed amenity to the creation of 500 jobs, or will Michelin have the opportunity of asking for a revision of this decision?

LORD POLWARTH

My Lords, I should have thought that that was a question which could be raised if it proved, as I am sure it will not, that no other suitable site is available. I would emphasise once more that it was not solely questions of amenity or archæology, but of good planning and in accordance with the recommendations of the Tayside Planning Review.