§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in view of the recent large numbers of job losses in the engineering, fishing, and fish processing industries in the East Aberdeenshire constituency, he will take steps, in co-operation with the Scottish Development Agency in order to attract new oil and gas-related industries to the area.
§ Mr. Alexander FletcherDecisions on location are ultimately for the companies concerned, but my Department and the Scottish Development Agency will, of course, continue to take such steps as are appropriate to encourage the creation of jobs in East Aberdeenshire.
§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in view of the large number of redundancies and total job losses involving both highly skilled and unskilled persons in East Aberdeenshire due to the lack of new industry in the area, he will consider what further measures can be taken to alleviate the position.
§ Mr. Alexander FletcherWe are taking steps to reduce inflation and create a sound and prosperous economy in which industry—in East Aberdeenshire and elsewhere—can expand and create new jobs. The measures announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 26 March to assist small firms are particularly relevant to the needs of areas such as East Aberdeenshire.