§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what calculations his Department has made of the loss of business and loss of jobs that will be caused to suppliers of equipment and materials by the closure of the Invergordon aluminium smelter.
§ Mr. Alexander FletcherThe effects of this closure will be wide-ranging and the Government have not in the time available attempted to quantify them precisely. Any estimate would have to take into account not only the loss of direct and indirect employment in the Invergordon area and elsewhere, but also the consequences of making low cost electricity from Hunterston, hitherto reserved for the smelter, available to the electricity boards.