§ 28. Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now arrange to have an urgent meeting with Scottish local authorities to discuss the proposed changes in regional development status in view of the drastically changed situation in many of the Scottish local authority areas, particularly the Grampian region.
§ Mr. Alexander FletcherWhile I am always ready to meet local authorities, I do not consider that a discussion along the lines proposed would be helpful at this juncture. I have been fully involved in the consideration of the representations made by Scottish local authorities against 93W changes in their assisted area status and I continue to keep a close watch on the situation, bearing in mind that the Government's aim in their regional policy is to concentrate the available aid on those areas suffering the most severe difficulties.