§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the rise in unemployment in areas mentioned in the McDowell-Begg report, including Fraserburgh and Peterhead, since its publication, he will arrange for its updating; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Alexander FletcherThe findings of the report together with the up-to-date information on unemployment in the areas concerned were taken into account in the review of areas scheduled to become non-assisted by downgrading by more than one step, the results of which were announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry on 28 June. No useful purpose would be served in updating the report at present, and no statement further to that made by my right hon. Friend at the time of its publication on 30 September 1981 is planned.—[Vol. 26, c. 610–11.]