§ Mr. Grayasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has yet come to a conclusion on the best method to end the State monopoly of the liquor trade in the Gretna and Cromarty districts.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellI have already made known the Government's intention to end this monopoly; and I have been in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary about the best method of achieving this. We have come to the conclusion that State participation in the liquor trade is neither necessary nor desirable. I intend to discontinue 275W the State Management system and to dispose of all facilities for the State supply of liquor. Legislation for this purpose will be introduced shortly.
The staff of the organisation are civil servants; and there will be full discussion with them, under ordinary civil service 276W arrangements, about the future of those affected by the decision. Since it is my intention that the licensed premises should be disposed of as going concerns, the decision is unlikely to have an adverse effect on the employment situation in the two Scottish districts.