20.
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland on what grounds he has rejected the application of the Scottish licensed trade to be represented on the advisory committee to the corporation of the new town at East Kilbride. Lanarkshire.
Under the Licensing Act, 1949, the duty of preparing schemes for the constitution of local advisory committees rests with the development corporations of the new towns. The scheme submitted for confirmation by the East Kilbride Corporation did not provide for representation of the Scottish Licensed Trade Defence Association, and my right hon. Friend saw no reason to withhold confirmation on that account.
is the hon. Lady aware that she has gone against the practice in England in similar circumstances, and may I ask her how her principle of fair shares allows her to enjoy this amenity in North Lanark which she denies to me in a neighbouring constituency?
I would like to give the hon. Gentleman all the amenities that are possible, but the local advisory committees are intended to express local opinion and to advise on local conditions, and it is quite impossible to regard the body that is asking for representation as a local interest in any sense.
29.
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why he has declined to receive a deputation from the Scottish Licensed Trade Defence Association in connection with the appointment of members of the local advisory committees and the new town development corporations in Scotland.
The Association's views were expressed by letter and were fully taken into account before the schemes for the constitution of the East Kilbride and Glenrothes Committees were confirmed. In these circumstances my right hon. Friend concluded that a meeting with the Association would serve no useful purpose.
Cannot the hon. Lady represent to the Secretary of State for Scotland that it would be helpful at least to give a sympathetic hearing to representatives of this Association?
Their views were considered when we were considering the East Kilbride scheme and were gone into thoroughly at that time. The Secretary of State felt that nothing useful could come of a further meeting now.