§ Mr. Crawfordasked the Secretary of State for Industry if, in the context of the rundown in the Scottish electronics and allied industries, he will commission a study into the feasibility of establishing electronic component factories in Scotland, thus reducing the unit costs of that industry; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MeacherI do not think that such a study would be helpful. The recent difficulties of electronics companies in Scotland reflect in the main a fall in demand which has also affected suppliers in other parts of the United Kingdom. I have no reason to think that these difficulties would have been lessened in Scotland if there had been more electronic component factories there or that this would necessarily have resulted in significantly lower unit costs for the companies concerned. We shall of course continue our efforts to attract suitable new projects to Scotland, where the full range of assisted area support is available.