asked the Prime Minister what plans he has to pay an official visit to the constituency of Stirling and Falkirk.

None at present, Sir.

Will the Prime Minister reconsider that decision so that he can see for himself the industrial anxiety to which his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland referred at St. Andrews on Tuesday?

Is he aware that we are continually being told that employment prospects in Scotland will improve when in fact they are deteriorattig and that unemployment in Scotland is a national scandal?

I fully realise the difficulties. I should have thought that the hon. Gentleman could also proclaim aloud that B.P. has announced that its base for the development of offshore oil from Scotland will be in his constituency.