asked the Secretary of State for Industry what are his proposals to promote the building of additional petrochemicals and plastics plant in Scotland and what attitude has been taken to additional capacity by the EEC Commission.

Officials of this Department in consultation with those at the Department of Energy and the Scottish Economic Planning Department are actively pursuing the possibilities for additional petrochemicals and plastics plants in Scotland which would use feedstock derived from North Sea oil and gas. Decisions to build additional plant are primarily a matter for the commercial judgment of the companies though they will no doubt take account of any available Government assistance.No comment has been received from the EEC Commission.