§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will define his strategic objectives for employment creation in the petrochemical industries in Scotland in the event of the spinal gas-gathering pipeline going ahead; what suitable green field sites are being surveyed; and what will be the role of the Scottish Development Agency and his Department in steering these feedstock developments to Scotland.
§ Mr. Alexander FletcherMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy announced on 19 June—[Vol. 986, c. 596–98]—the next steps being taken towards the construction of a new gas-gathering line and the situation will be reassessed once Ministers have the report of the organising committee. In the meantime the various proposals which are being made for utilising the natural gas liquids will be studied in the context of the Government's aim of securing maximum national benefit from North Sea resources. At this stage in the development of possibilities it is too early to speculate on specific implications such as any involvement of the Scottish Development Agency.