HL Deb 15 November 1979 vol 402 cc1421-4

4.57 p.m.

Lord LYELL rose to move, That the order laid before the House on 23rd October, be approved. The noble Lord said: My Lords, I beg to move that the order laid before the House on 23rd October 1979 be approved. The purpose of this order is to extend the area in which the Highlands and Islands Development Board exercises its statutory responsibilities to include the islands of Great and Little Cumbrae in the Firth of Clyde. The Cumbraes—both of the small islands—have a population of approximately 1,100, and they lie approximately two miles off the North Ayrshire coast. Until 1975 these islands formed with the other islands of Arran and Bute the local government unit of Buteshire, but since then they have been administratively part of the district of Cunninghame. The Highlands and Islands Development Board was established in 1965 to assist the people of its area to improve their economic and social conditions, and to enable them to play a more effective part in the economy of the nation. The board's original area was confined to the former crofting counties, but the 1965 Act enabled the Secretary of State for Scotland to designate additions to that area by an Order made by Statutory Instrument and approved by each House. In framing such an order the Secretary of State is still required to have regard to the character of the area to be included and to its existing proximity to the area of the board.

In 1975, with the reorganisation of local government, the board's area was extended to include the whole of the new Highland Region as well as the islands of Arran and Bute, which after 1975 became part of Strathclyde Region, and this measure left the Cumbraes as the only island community (on the two islands) off the West Coast of Scotland which remained outside the scope of the responsibility of the Highlands and Islands Development Board. The Government of the day decided that because the islands were linked to the economy of the adjacent part of mainland Scotland, the case for their inclusion within the Highlands and Islands Development Board's area was not in all respects so strong as that of Arran and Bute. But since then the people of the Cumbraes, supported by Cunninghame District Council, have pressed for the 1975 decision to be reversed, and they have presented convincing reasons why the islands should come within the board's remit.

We have recognised the force of these arguments, and the Conservative Party's election manifesto for Scotland contained an undertaking that the status of the two islands of Cumbrae would be changed in this way. Our conclusion is that the economic and the social conditions of the islands are much nearer in character to that of Arran and Bute, and indeed the rest of the Highland area, than they are to those of the mainland of Scotland, particularly in the Cunninghame district. The evidence which is available to us shows that the community on the Cumbraes is probably more precarious and fragile—in its numbers, I hope not in its physical sense—than are those on their neighbouring islands, which are already under the care of the Highlands and Islands Development Board.

The population of the two islands of the Cumbrae has declined for several decades, and regrettably it is still falling. A high proportion of the population is over retirement age, and the proportion of the active employed group is unusually low, even for the Highlands, indicating that the young people of the two islands of Cumbrae are emigrating for jobs. Indeed, some 80 per cent. of all existing employment in these two islands is in the service industries, which are almost entirely dependent on tourism, with its seasonal fluctuations. Since 1975 the number of local jobs has fallen with the completion of certain construction projects. Indeed, the employment opportunities on the mainland have, lamentably, also declined. This was recognised by the upgrading of the adjacent mainland area (which I think is covered by the Largs employment office area) to special development area status earlier this year.

Assistance can now be given to individual developments on the Cumbraes under the Industry Act, and indeed from the Scottish Development Agency and the Scottish Tourist Board, but the Highlands and Islands Development Board is capable of tackling the problems of rural committees in a very full and comprehensive way, and we believe that it has much experience in this task. The board will also be equipped with wide-ranging powers to give support and stimulus to any entrepreneurs and private businesses which may wish to set up in any sectors of the local economy. I am sure that your Lordships will agree that the measure which I am proposing this afternoon would be beneficial to this island community, and I hope that your Lordships will welcome this small extension to the board's responsibilities. The addition to the board's responsibilities of the islands of Cumbrae will make a relatively small additional demand on the board's resources, and this is going to be found from within the approved estimate for grant-in-aid to the board and within future financial provisions.

By the terms of the Treaty of Rome the Government have to inform the Commission of any intention to extend the regional aids which are administered by the Highlands and Islands Development Board. We have been informed that the Commission has no objection to the changes proposed by this order, and with that conclusion I would commend it to your Lordships' House.

Moved, That the order laid before the House on 23rd October, be approved.—(Lord Lyell.)

Baroness STEDMAN

My Lords, the House will indeed be grateful to the noble Lord for explaining to those of us who do not come from North of the Border exactly how the Scottish Highlands and Islands Development Board works, and the advantage that this will be to Great and Little Cumbrae. Again, it is presumptuous, perhaps, for an English person to speak on behalf of her Scottish colleagues, but from this side of the House I am delighted to welcome this very small extension to the duties of the board.

Lord LYELL

My Lords, I think it would be churlish of me not to reciprocate the kind wishes of the noble Baroness, and, indeed, her charm and courtesy is welcome, as indeed was also that of her colleague who spoke earlier on a Scottish Motion. In commending these orders we hope that they will make a generous contribution to the economy of Scotland and of the United Kingdom.

On Question, Motion agreed to.