asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he will institute a survey of the mineral resources in Cornwall in order to ensure that any plans for the development of the region take proper account of the commercial possibilities of reopening closed mines.

The consultants who have been commissioned by the Joint Committee for the Economy of the South—West, with financial support from the Government, to study the development of the South—West are looking into mineral prospects in Cornwall.

While thanking the hon. Gentleman for his reply, may I ask him if this matter might be treated with some urgency because a number of independent investigators are interested in the mineral possibilities of the county and because it would undoubtedly be in the interests of the South—West generally that a survey should be completed as soon as possible so that British interests might have first place over foreign interests, which at the moment are receiving quite a lot of attention?

The report of the survey is expected in February and will be acted upon.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he will embody, in the responsibilities of the Economic Planning Board covering the West Midlands, full recognition of the population and industrial undertakings incorporated in the existing Agreement on Overspill between the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, Birmingham, and the county of Stafford.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs (1) what progress has been made by the interdepartmental group studying the economic needs of Yorkshire; and when he will be in a position to publish conclusions for the East and West Ridings and for South Yorkshire;

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs when the regional planning boards will be set up; and what areas they will cover.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what representation of agricultural interests he intends to include on regional planning boards.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether, having regard to the special problems in the Merseyside conurbation, he will set up a separate development board for the area.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs how far he has proceeded with the designation and delimitation of a regional planning area which will include the East and West Ridings of Yorkshire.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs when he will announce his plans for regional development; and if he will give an assurance that the main appointments will be made irrespective of local authority membership or political connections and from men and women free from controversial loyalties.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will make a statement on the setting up of advisory regional councils and regional planning boards.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs when he will make a statement on the proposed region affecting Yorkshire.

I must ask the hon. Members to await the comprehensive statement which I hope to make next week on the structure and functions of the regional planning boards and councils and the areas they will cover.

While recognising the timetable which my right hon. Friend has set himself on this matter, may I ask him whether he is aware that my reason for putting down the Question was that my experience in Staffordshire during the last few years has been that whereas the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, the Ministry concerned in this agreement, was fully aware of its provisions, other Ministries, such as Education, the Post Office and Transport seemed to be singularly unaware of them, and that trouble has been caused by the failure to provide new industry, which was implicit in the agreement, with resulting problems to the population and their work?

Yes, Sir, I will keep that in mind between now and next week.

Is the Minister aware that there is considerable feeling in the Sheffield area about the provision of separate regions based on Sheffield? I welcome the fact that the right hon. Gentleman is seeing a delegation from that city, but, in answer to my Question, will he answer the specific aspect of what evidence he has had from Sheffield so far? In Question No. 4 I ask what infor- mation he has prepared on the East and West Ridings and of South Yorkshire and the regional aspects of them? Will he publish that information in the form of a White Paper before he makes a positive statement?

I must ask the hon. Gentleman to await my statement next week, but if he has any information that he would like me to have, I should be very happy to have it.

Will the right hon, Gentleman take steps to obtain copies of the report prepared by the planning department of Liverpool so that he may appreciate our special problems before taking a final decision in the matter?

As the hon. Gentleman knows, I have been up there many times recently, and I have that well in mind.

Will the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that the proposed region in the Yorkshire and wider area will be wide enough to be a true region and not a small urban area to meet the needs of one city?

I thank my hon. Friend for his help, but we had better wait for next week.

Would the right hon. Gentleman accept my view that in order to obtain political balance the chairman of any regional board should be an independent individual? Would he also give an assurance, as far as Newcastle-upon—Tyne is concerned, that no appointment has already been made?

The hon. Lady may be quite certain that any appointment which I make will be seen to be obviously the right one to make.

Would the right hon. Gentleman accept that in relation to regional planning, a great deal of co-ordination has been done in north—east England? Will he also accept that there is a great deal of concern about the possibility of apparently unnecessary new bodies undermining democratically-elected local government?

As to the second point in the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question, there is no reason at all for fear. As to his first point—yes, I do know this. One of the most distinguished civil servants helping me in my new Department had a lot to do with it.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that many hon. Members representing Yorkshire constituencies consider the question asked by the hon. Member for the Hallam Division of Sheffield (Mr. J. H. Osborn) to be a piece of downright impertinence?

Order. From no conceivable point of view is that a matter for which the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs has responsibility.

While I agree with the hon. Member for Lichfield and Tamworth (Mr. Snow) that Birmingham firms desiring to settle in the designated areas of Staffordshire should be allowed to do so, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman also to bear in mind that it is equally important that Birmingham firms desiring to remain in Birmingham should be allowed to expand properly in order to maintain their competitive efficiency?

Obviously, one of the difficult decisions one has to make is that of trying to secure proper regional balance and proper use of the country's resources, but I take the right hon. Gentleman's point.

Considering the cheapness of office accommodation on Merseyside compared with that in London and the South-East, would the First Secretary consider further moves of Government Departments to Merseyside, and would he also try to get private enterprise to do the same thing?

The hon. Member must be aware that one of the very first things we did on taking office was to try to stop this over-concentration of office development in the London and South-East Region. I have the hon. Member's other point well in mind.

In view of the legacy of unemployment, depopulation and economic decline in Scotland left by the Tory Party, can my right hon. Friend assure me that the Scottish plan will in no way be held up by delays in other parts of the country, and that full regard will be had to the need for galvanising economic and social activity so as to improve the lot of the Scottish people?

I have that matter in mind, but I believe that my hon. Friend has a Question down for answer a little later today, so perhaps we can deal with it then.

I am sure that the First Secretary of State is aware of the very great interest there naturally is in all parts of the House and in the country in the subject of regional development. Will he, therefore, ensure that his statement, to which we shall look forward next week, is as comprehensive as possible? And will he indicate to us now that it will cover the whole structure of regional development, so that we can the better appraise the Government's intentions and, at the same time, perhaps some of the anxieties to which my hon. Friends have correctly referred may be relieved?

I do not know whether all the anxieties of the party opposite will ever be relieved, but the statement will be as comprehensive as I can possibly make it.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether the prices of goods and services provided by State-owned enterprises will be included among those which may be referred to the Price Review Body for consumer protection.

I have nothing to add to the reply given by the Economic Secretary to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Mr. Gresham Cooke) on 26th November.

If the intention is to attack price rises at the roots—as, I believe, the Labour Party has promised—would the Minister agree that the roots are very often the publicly-owned industries? If so, will the probable rise in the price of postage stamps, and season tickets and cheap day return tickets on the railways be included in the scrutiny of the Price Review Body? If not, why not?

I think that it would be difficult, in principle, to exclude any kind of price from review, but before we go further into this we shall have to take our present talks a little further.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether the proposed price review body will consider means of equalising the retail price of coal throughout the country.

As my right hon. Friend informed the hon. Member for Twickenham (Mr. Gresham Cooke) on 26th November, we are not yet in a position to announce the precise scope and functions of the machinery to be devised for reviewing prices. We intend to discuss these matters with representatives of industry before taking decisions.

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Is not my Question No. 19?

I may be getting rather short-sighted but it appears to me to be No. 18 on my Order Paper. There is no doubt that it is the hon. Gentleman's Question and the only one thereabouts on the Paper.

Will the Joint Under-Secretary of State bear in mind that it is most important that the commanding heights of the economy do not get any higher than they are at the moment?

"Commanding" is the operative word.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to reduce the risk of inflation; if he will define the meaning of the term inflation in the context of his reply; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer made it clear in his Budget statement on 11th November that in framing his proposals he had taken account of the need to prevent the pressure of demand from becoming excessive At the same time, we attach the greatest importance to the early achievement of an effective policy for incomes and prices. The hon. Gentleman will find an admirable exposition of the two main kinds of inflation in a report, "The Problem of Rising Prices", published by the O.E.C.D. in 1961.

Is the Minister aware that several of the Chancellor's recent measures are inflationary, by any definition of the term, and calculated to cause hardship to that very large proportion of our people who live on fixed incomes or who earn comparatively low wages, like many of my constituents in North Dorset, whose incomes are, in fact, lower than the relevant figures authorised by the National Assistance Board? Will he agree that his right hon. Friend will not be able to control inflation until he makes up his mind what it means, and will he look at this again as a matter of urgency, in the interests of the whole nation and, particularly, in the interests of the less fortunate members of it?

Hon. Members, certainly those on this side, are deeply concerned with the problems of poverty in many parts of the country and with the low earnings of many workers. This is a matter of deep concern and, as distinct from the previous Administration, we intend to deal with it, in the first instance, through our regional plans, co-ordinated with a national plan. Secondly, we have the will and urgent intent to do something about these problems—

How?

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor has already stated that the increase in the duty on oil and petrol is likely to raise the retail price index figure by no more than one—fifth of a point immediately. Hon. Members opposite must make up their minds about the National Insurance contributions. If they want an increase in pensions the increase must be paid for. If they agree, they should say so. The import surcharge was necessary because of the serious balance of payments position that we inherited from the Tory Administration.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what machinery he has set up in his Department to coordinate the Scottish Regional Plan with other regional plans for economic development.

Representatives of the Scottish Planning Board will take part in inter—departmental discussions under the chairmanship of this Department, which is responsible for co-ordinating regional plans. In addition, a senior officer from this Department will attend the meetings of the Scottish Planning Board.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the zeal, initiative and energy that he has applied to this very great problem is very much appreciated by the people of Scotland? Will he assure us that no stone will be left unturned and no delays allowed in the effort to introduce the remedial measures that are so necessary for Scotland's economy?

I am much obliged to my hon. Friend. The relations and working between myself and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, and his Department and ours, are close and vigorous, and we are both very concerned to improve the situation.

Is the First Secretary aware that the people of Scotland do not consider that a Scottish Planning Board with no executive powers is a very good exchange for a 7 per cent. Bank Rate and increased taxes?

My impression of the General Election was that, whatever happened anywhere else in the United Kingdom, the people of Scotland made quite clear what they wanted.

Would the right hon. Gentleman agree that the Scottish Development Group has been doing excellent work in Scotland, and can he assure us that the result of that work, and of the work being done at present, will not be lost in the new organisation?

Quite the contrary.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether it remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government to reach the National Economic Development Council's target of 4 per cent. growth rate per annum.

Our intention is to reach an annual rate of growth of 4 per cent. as soon as possible and this will be the objective of the Government's new plan. But the economy is not growing at 4 per cent. at present.

Is it not true that the Labour Party's election target for the growth rate apparently exceeded our own 4 per cent. target and has had to be corrected? Is it not also the case that it was supposed to cover the social policy programme of the party opposite without increased taxation? Why then, within a month of the election, has the Chancellor of the Exchequer imposed a rise in standard rate, in petrol tax and in insurance contributions—exactly as was predicted by my right hon. Friend the Member for Barnet (Mr. Maudling)?

Not for the first time, the hon. Member for Surbiton (Mr. Fisher) has got the thing exactly the wrong way round. The fact is, as we have discovered, that the target of the previous Administration far exceeded their performance and that the promises of the previous Administration far exceeded both their target and performance.

Can my right hon. Friend confirm the current reports that the rate of economic growth in the last nine months of the late Government was running at only half of the target?

Order. The right hon. Gentleman can only be asked to confirm reports for which he is responsible, otherwise the Question is out of order.

Will the right hon. Gentleman define more exactly the words "as soon as possible"? When is it to be?

As soon as we can get there—and that is a very great deal quicker than the previous Administration.

Does the right hon. Gentleman think that the N.E.D.C. will work better now that the Chancellor of the Exchequer is not a member?

If the hon. Gentleman takes steps to discover what happened yesterday, he will find that all members of the N.E.D.C. felt that we are moving forward very well indeed.

What organisations does my right hon. Friend seek to establish in order to get the markets that a 4 per cent. growth rate will justify? Unless we get markets for our goods, irrespective of how much we produce, a 4 per cent. growth rate will not help all that much.

That aspect has been very much one of our major preoccupations in the last seven weeks and we are very busy establishing arrangements to get the export markets which, unhappily, our predecessors failed to do.

Are we now to assume that the Labour Government have abandoned the programme for growth which they recklessly promised the electorate in the last few months?

Not only is the right hon. Gentleman not to assume that but he might also consider whether it would not fit the party opposite's past failure to start giving some help instead of just "knocking".

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he is aware that greater mobility of labour must be achieved if regional development is to be successful; and what steps he is taking to encourage such mobility.

Yes, Sir. This is vital for greater efficiency generally in the use of labour which is fundamental to growth of the economy. The Government are taking steps to improve the financial provision for redundant workers and expansion of facilities for retraining is under way.

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that two of the greatest deterrents to the mobility of labour, particularly of key workers and executives, are the non-transferability of pension rights and the high cost of house purchase? Will he consult his right hon. Friends concerned to secure early legislation for the transfer of pension rights and also consult the legal profession to see whether house purchase can be simplified?

Yes, Sir. We were glad to have the hon. Gentleman's support in the election campaign for that part of our manifesto.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the last Administration achieved great mobility of labour by shifting thousands of workers from Scotland to the South-East?

Yes, Sir. One of the objectives of national and regional planning is to see that not only is that situation prevented from continuing but that there is a move in another direction.

Does the right hon. Gentleman's Answer mean that the Government have dropped their hag—ridden ideas of direction of industry?

The Government never had these hag-ridden ideas. All the hag-riding is on the benches opposite.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on his visit to the British Industrial Fair in Peking on 2nd November; and if he will detail the orders for British goods, and particularly Scottish goods, which will follow from the visit.

I refer my hon. Friend to the Answer my right hon. Friend gave in the House on 12th November to my hon. Friend the Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Arthur Lewis). Since that time I have heard of a certain number of contracts concluded and negotiations for others are understood to be in progress. I have not yet seen any reports of contracts concluded by Scottish firms.

While expressing appreciation of the enterprise of the President of the Board of Trade in undertaking this long and novel trip to develop new markets for British enterprise, may I ask my hon. Friend to particularise what goods the Chinese want that Scotland can supply and what orders are likely to emerge from the trip?

I am afraid that I cannot give itemised information in reply to my hon. and learned Friend's supplementary question, but very few Scottish firms applied for places at the exhibition. Had it been otherwise, perhaps he would have been better informed.

Can the hon. Gentleman give the assurance that the whole House would, I am sure, wish to have—that opportunities for increased trade with China, which many of us believe to be very great, will be prosecuted by the Government in association with private firms with vigour following plans laid by my right hon. Friend the Member for Bexley (Mr. Heath)?

Certainly, whatever opportunities occur will be pursued as vigorously in China as they are in all other markets, in accordance with the full intention of the Government.

Although it may be the case, as my hon. Friend has said, that many Scottish firms did not apply for space at the exhibition, is he aware that Fairfield Shipbuilding Yard in Govan division made strenuous efforts to embark on trade with China but with very little help from the previous Government when they were in power?

Would the Minister of State ensure that the Chinese are aware that we do not need one single egg from them and that our own domestic production is now at such a level that any increase in trade which depends on Chinese eggs coming into this country is quite unwelcome?

I find it difficult to relate that supplementary question to the Question, but the hon. Gentleman might note that there is a later Question on the subject of eggs.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has for using for industrial purposes the modern buildings now lying derelict at the surface of the Aitken and Rothes pits in Fife; and whether he will invite industrialists to inspect these facilities with a view to renting or purchase.

The Board of Trade will continue to draw the attention of firms to any land and buildings which the National Coal Board makes available for industrial use at these pits.

Have these buildings been inspected by any representatives from the Board of Trade? Is my hon. Friend aware that they could be modified and used by industrialists? The community of Kelty is very anxious for some new industry to come there. This is a very good opportunity for my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade to do a good service to that valuable community.

Yes, the buildings have been examined. There will be no buildings available at the Aitken pit. Most of those that are now there will be demolished. The remaining building there is being used by the South of Scotland Electricity Board, but there is land available at this pit and we are suggesting the site to a firm which we think will be interested in taking it. There are some useful buildings at the Rothes pit, and we have been told by the National Coal Board that it will consider any suitable inquiries for them. We are in close touch with the National Coal Board on this matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he intends to take to speed up the clearing of derelict sites, especially in areas of high unemployment.

My right hon. Friend is reviewing the use which is made of the Board of Trade's powers under the Local Employment Act, 1960, relating to the clearance of derelict sites. There has been a marked increase in the number of schemes put forward by local authorities in the development districts since the rate of grant was increased last year.

Is my hon. Friend aware that progress in clearing derelict sites is still depressingly slow? Is he aware that under the Labour Government's legislation in the 1945–50 era the grant for local authorities was 100 per cent.? It was subsequently reduced by the Tory Administration. Will my hon. Friend give an undertaking that it will be restored to 100 per cent. so that areas like my own can get on speedily with this job?

I agree with my hon. Friend that the whole question of clearing derelict sites needs to be examined again. I can assure him that, if he has any specific cases that he thinks we ought to consider, we will be very glad to look at them. The review my right hon. Friend is undertaking is to be a fairly speedy review and I hope to give some information to my hon. Friend before long.

Is my hon. Friend aware that in the County of Durham and in the Northern Region generally local authorities find it quite impossible to solve the problem of clearing derelict sites through lack of finance? Unless more finance is provided, the derelict sites will remain for a long time.

These are some of the matters which we must take into consideration. It is not only a question of finance. There is confusion about powers in many cases, as to whose responsibility it is. We will take all these matters into consideration.

Is there any difficulty as regards the powers of the National Coal Board to remove unsightly pit heaps and also mining machinery which is no longer of any value?

I should like to have notice of that question. If my right hon. Friend has a specific case in mind we should be very glad to look into it. The Board is usually very helpful in these matters.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will shortly make a visit to South Africa, in order to increase British exports to that country.

My right hon. Friend has no plans for such a visit.

Is the Minister of State aware that that reply will cause a great deal of dismay to a large number of workpeople in this country who depend for their jobs upon the large volume of exports we have to South Africa? Will the hon. Gentleman tell his right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade that, in view of the large export trade we have with South Africa, as head of our Trade Department he should pay a visit to South Africa and help to increase our exports?

Present circumstances do not indicate any urgent need for such a visit as the hon. and gallant Gentleman suggests.

Will the hon. Gentleman ensure that the Government do nothing which will reduce exports to South Africa, particularly of oil and other matters?

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the clear statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 25th November that the Government believe

"that, except in war or near war conditions, one does not use trade as a means of expressing one's detestation of particular policies."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 25th November, 1964; Vol. 702, c. 1282.]

Will my hon. Friend consider making a world tour, because what we may lose on the South African swings we are likely to gain on the world roundabouts?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will take steps to prohibit the import of shell eggs into this country.

No, Sir.

Is the Minister aware that a large number of producers of shell eggs in this country have gone out of business? Why should we continue to allow all these foreign imports when we can produce sufficient in this country for our own consumption?

There is no reason to imagine that the importation of eggs, which has amounted to less than 2 per cent. of total supplies, has had anything like the deleterious consequences the hon. and gallant Gentleman suggests.

Would my hon. Friend bear in mind when he is considering these appeals from hon. Members opposite that the Committee of Ways and Means spent 15 hours yesterday defeating the efforts of the Opposition to prevent the Government from restricting imports at all?

I am only too conscious personally of the extraordinary hours which the Committee spent on that subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the effects on the City of Aberdeen of his proposals for the restriction of office building, indicating in particular the effect on the building of homes for the people.

I hope that the control of office development will result in a better distribution of office employment over the country, including Scotland. I cannot say how far Aberdeen may benefit, but I certainly do not expect the control to affect adversely the provision of housing there.

Does the Minister realise that, in order to make the proposals already adumbrated by him really effective for Aberdeen, it is essential fox him to keep in close contact with the housing and town planning departments of Aberdeen municipality? Will he indicate what steps he has taken in that direction and what steps he proposes to take in the future?

The White Paper which was recently published stated that comprehensive studies designed to throw light on the matters that my hon. and learned Friend has raised would be made. These would take into consideration town and country problems not only in Aberdeen but all over the country.

Would my hon. Friend ask the President of the Board of Trade to draw the attention of business heads to the fact that Aberdeen and other Scottish cities are among the most pleasant places in the world to live in, that they will be able to use their cars there, and that they would be able to have recreation after working hours, which is available in no other place in the country?

Certainly.

When can the legislation envisaged in the White Paper be expected, because the continuing uncertainty is having a very bad effect?

Very soon, but we have been here only seven weeks.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will authorise further advance factories to be built in areas of depopulation and unemployment in south-west Scotland.

The programme of nine advance factories for Scotland announced on 18th November included one of 12,000 sq. ft. in the Cumnock area. It is too early yet to consider a further programme, but when it is possible to do so the employment situation in South-West Scotland will be borne in mind.

While thanking the hon. Gentleman for that reply, may I ask him if he is aware that the factories built at Stranraer and Sanquhar by the last Government have been most successful? Will he bear in mind the very high rate of unemployment for men in this area and explain why the area was not included in the last announcement?

We are aware of the success of the Stranraer factory, but the hon. Member will be aware that advance factories are not the only inducements we have to bring industrialists to these districts. All the other inducements will be brought into play in the district about which he is speaking.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the news of the advance factory at Cumnock was received with great enthusiasm there as being the beginning of the good work of the Labour Government? Is he further aware that in this south-west area there are many villages from which women workers can get to work only by long bus journeys? Since some of them must be away from home for as much as 12 hours a day and are not paid very high wages, is my hon. Friend aware that advance factories in these areas would be very welcome indeed?

Yes, Sir. We are well aware of the travel problems in the area referred to by my hon. Friend. As he said, the advance factory which the Government announced last month is only the beginning. The whole development district policy is being reviewed.

Does not the Minister of State realise that while hon. Members opposite criticise the former Administration for concentrating too much on the centre of Scotland, his Administration, in spite of what they said during the Queen's Speech, are doing exactly that at a moment when any imagination could have seen the opportunities in the outlying parts of Scotland today?

Perhaps if that imagination had been shown a few years ago we might have had a better distribution of industry. I hope that the right hon. Gentleman will also take into account the fact that this central area is the area of heaviest unemployment. It is that problem with which we must deal immediately. When I refered to the fact that we are reviewing the development districts, we have in mind a wider and longer-term proposition to spread industry over a wider area.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take appropriate action to ensure that all surgical instruments imported into the United Kingdom should bear the engraved name of the country of origin, to prevent re-export as if of British manufacture.

My right hon. Friend has no power to initiate changes in the requirements regarding marks of origin on imported surgical instruments. If an application were duly made, he would refer it to the independent Standing Committee, whose report he would carefully consider, as provided in the Merchandise Marks Act, 1926.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has for extending the Shipbuilding Credit Scheme.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he intends to renew the shipbuilding credit facilities for a further period.

My right hon. Friend has no plans for renewing or extending the Shipbuilding Credit Scheme.

Is the Minister of State aware that his reply will cause great concern in the shipbuilding industry? Is he aware just how much the industry has benefited from the two years of stability which this scheme has provided? In arriving at this decision, did he take into account the fact that the shipbuilding industry provides a great deal of employment in areas of high unemployment and that in the west of Scotland alone more than 70 per cent. of families depend, directly or indirectly, on this industry? Will he, therefore, review this decision?

We are fully aware of the concern which is felt in the shipbuilding industry over the running down of orders following the end of the Shipbuilding Credit Scheme. There is a fair volume of orders still within the industry and this will give us time to make a full appraisal of the fundamental problems facing the industry. That is the practical survey which I am now carrying out.

Will the Minister repeat to the House the pledges made in shipbuilding areas during the election?

I was not personally responsible for any of those. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]

The Minister is speaking for the Government.

I wish to give notice that in view of the unsatisfactory nature of the Minister's reply, I will raise the matter on the Adjournment.