asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement regarding the relationship of the Scottish Council (Development and Industry) to the Scottish Economic Council with regard to the attraction of industry to Scotland.

Apart from the fact that some members of the Scottish Economic Council are also members of the Executive Committee of the Scottish Council (Development and Industry) there is no formal relationship between the two bodies whose functions are quite different.

Whatever the formal relationship for the attraction of industry to Scotland, does the right hon. Gentleman accept that the recent local election results show that the Government's policy for the attraction of industry to Scotland is viewed with extreme disfavour by the Scottish populace?

I wondered how soon a reference would be made to these events. The Scottish Council and the Scottish Economic Council are, in their various tasks, both doing an excellent job.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether he has any information about what are the most important factors in attracting industry to Scotland or repelling it? Is it cheap credit, transport, the fact that firms can find environmental situations in Scotland that they cannot get elsewhere, or what? It is important to know the main factors.

It is difficult to give a categorical answer to that question. I will write to the right hon. Gentleman. We had a debate about these matters recently. There are some very important attractions and inducements that we can offer in Scotland, not only to industry which is mobile in the United Kingdom but also to industry abroad. In the case of United Kingdom industry, we have to beat inflation and to get growth and investment confidence again in order to attract it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what official overseas visits he has planned over the next 12 months for the purpose of attracting new industry to Scotland.

Following the visit to Germany last year of my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Development, arrangements have been made between the Scottish Office and the Scottish Council for a campaign to attract industry from Europe to Scotland. This campaign will require extensive and frequent visits to Europe by those concerned in it; and my hon. Friend will be there again later this year to see how the campaign is going. Further Ministerial visits will be made when the need arises.

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell us whether there is any concrete evidence of the results of this activity? In view of yesterday's events, would he not be making a better contribution to employment prospects in Scotland if he made himself a permanent emigrant? Is it not a disgrace that at a time when we are asking Scottish Questions for a whole hour there are no more than three Scottish Tory Members of Parliament on the benches opposite?

The evidence is apparent in inquiries which are being made, but naturally commercial inquiries are confidential until particular projects are announced by the companies concerned.

What steps has the Secretary of State taken to draw to the attention of foreign developers the advantages of the Highlands in the light of the ban which he put on the Highlands Development Board carrying out its own promotional exercises overseas?

I have put no ban on the Highlands Development Board. I have tried to rationalise and arrange the co-ordination of the promotion of Scotland as a whole, so that different parts of Scotland and different bodies are not competing against each other and also causing confusion when they visit other countries or other bodies abroad. The Scottish Council and the Government are working in partnership to achieve this kind of promotion for the whole of Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many school children in the county of Midlothian will cease to receive free school milk following the Government's announcement on 27th October, 1970.

I am asking Midlothian educaton authority to let the hon. Member have an estimate.

Does the hon. Gentleman agree that the health of our children in Scotland is a matter of which we have been rather proud? How can we justify this piece of class-ridden legislation which will deprive thousands of school children of free school milk? Is he aware that already in the City of Edinburgh, for example, 30,548 children will be deprived of free school milk? How can he justify it?

The medical advice is that no untoward consequences need follow, any more than when the last Labour Government ended free milk to secondary schools in 1968. As a matter of prudence, arrangements are being made to keep watch on the long-term nutritional state of the children affected by the change.

Will the hon. Gentleman say what medical advice he sought and got? In the course of an Adjournment debate on the same issue recently, he said that he had not sought medical advice but that it was there if he wanted to avail himself of it.

The advice available in my Department and, if need be, outside will be used. Arrangements are being made at present and in the future to keep a careful watch on the situation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has completed his review of the financial situation of grant-aided schools in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has made regulations which will enable him to increase the present fixed grants so as to take account of rises since October, 1969 in the level of relevant costs. He is still considering the longterm grant arrangements in consultation with the schools.

Does my hon. Friend realise that that is a very satisfactory Answer? Will he step up the grants as much as possible, remembering the value of these schools and the good products which come from them? Will he settle the question fairly quickly, as a number of parents are anxious?

We appreciate that this is an urgent matter. It was because of some of the factors mentioned by my hon. Friend that the Government acted as they did.

Does not the hon. Gentleman think that it is advisable to review his Education (Scotland) Bill concerning fee-paying schools, especially in the light of the personal rebuffs which he and his followers suffered in the Cathcart constituency last night?

I am very touched by the hon. Gentleman's sympathetic reference to what happened in my constituency. He cannot have looked at the whole picture or he would have noted the result in the Langside ward, where we had a near-record majority.

Will my hon. Friend ignore that comment from the hon. Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Sillars) and devote himself, as he has done so admirably, to the defence of the variety of choice of Scottish education, which is one of the largest attractions which we have to offer and which has been at the root of the success of education in Scotland over the years?

I certainly agree that there is a real place for the grant-aided schools in Scotland, and the measures which we have taken have been fully justified.

Was not one reason for the Tories justifiably doing so lamentably in Scotland yesterday that they robbed Scottish education of free milk for primary schools and effectively deprived pupils of school meals to subsidise snobbery in fee-paying schools?

The right hon. Gentleman's assessment of the situation is absolutely outrageous. Surely he knows that the responsible and sympathetic policy of the Government is to give assistance and welfare to those in need. The right hon. Gentleman will be aware that the new arrangements will offer free school meals to a larger proportion of pupils.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will cause the Scottish Development Department to initiate a study on the effects of unfair pricing policies by Scandinavian pulp and paper manufacturers on the paper industry in Scotland.

This is a matter for which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry is responsible. In the light of further information provided by the industry he has decided to take up the question again with the principal countries concerned.

I am glad that at long last the Government are to move at least a little on this matter which has caused about 1,800 redundancies in Scotland alone since the General Election. Will the right hon. Gentleman undertake to keep up the pressure, either from his own Department or from other Departments, to make sure that we stop this terrible drain on our employment situation caused through the decline in the paper industry?

I am well aware of the difficulties of international pricing policies in the paper industry. That is a matter for which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry is responsible. The Regional Development Division of the Scottish Office keeps in close touch with the Department of Trade and Industry on these matters.

Does my right hon. Friend agree that in view of the Government's intentions to seek entry into the Common Market, there is a danger that the Scandinavian countries will try to run paper mills in this country out of business during the negotiations?

I am very much aware of these problems, which were aired in the House in a debate in which I took part when E.F.T.A. was formed 10 years ago. The Scandinavian countries are already competing with us as a result of that.

Will the right hon. Gentleman, in his deliberations with his right hon. Friend in the Department of Trade and Industry, stress the fact that many of these companies in the process of rationalising are looking searchingly at their Scottish factories and therefore there might be a danger of their closing Scottish branch factories even though they may be economic?

I will certainly draw my right hon. Friend's attention to what the hon. Member has said. It is a subject of which I am very conscious.

Will the Secretary of State look particularly at the urgency of the matter? As he said, it is the affair of our mutual right hon. Friend. It is not only a Scottish matter, but a national matter, and it is desperately urgent. Concerning Scotland, will he particularly look at the alternative supply of home-grown pulp wood in increasing quantities which could help the Scottish industry? Furthermore, will he look at the possibility of hard-wood pulp mills in Scotland, which would enable a still greater quantity of home-grown timber to be used?

I will certainly consider these matters. Having been involved with the pulp mill built at Fort William when I was a member of a previous Conservative Government, I am aware of the possibilities mentioned by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take special measures to alleviate unemployment in the building industry in the Edinburgh area.

We have already taken account of the unemployment situation in reaching our decision to schedule the whole of the Edinburgh area as an intermediate area. The construction industry will benefit especially from the halving of selective employment tax.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that thousands of building workers in the Edinburgh area are unemployed and that at the same time thousands of families in Edinburgh are inadequately housed? Will he attempt to alleviate this crisis situation by inviting the local authorities and the Regional Hospital Board to advance, where possible, the starting dates for some of their major building projects?

I am aware of the need for more work for the building industry as well as of the unemployment situation in other industries. In various measures, such as the increased expenditure on hospital building and primary schools and also in measures put forward by Edinburgh, for example the modernisation of older local authority housing at Craigmillar, I will give every encouragement to getting ahead with building.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has in mind for encouraging wider use of house improvement grants in the private sector; and if, in particular, he will examine ways of making local authority and building society loans more readily available to help private householders to improve the non-grant element of house improvement costs.

We have just launched a campaign of national and local publicity to encourage more improvement and my right hon. Friend has recently removed the limit on the amount local authorities may lend for house purchase and improvement. We are in touch with the building societies about ways in which they might help.

I thank my hon. Friend for that answer. Will he make quite sure that this publicity is continued, because many people want to become owner-occupiers? Therefore, the more publicity which can be given to the facilities which are available, the better.

I entirely agree with my hon. Friend. I think that the grants given under the 1969 Act for house improvement are very generous, and I hope that they will be made use of by as many people as possible.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that while we are always interested to have a visit from an Under-Secretary at Woodside, it was considered just a little blatant for him to be there the day before the municipal elections to open some houses very much involved with some of the local councillors? We are, and will be, delighted with any measrures which are taken to improve and build upon the Labour Government's Act for the improvement of old property.

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his support for what we are trying to do. It simply never occurred to me that there was any political connection whatever in that occasion.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of house improvement grants approved since June, 1970; and what was the number approved in the comparable period prior to that date.

In the nine months to the end of March, 1971, improvement grants were approved for 16,031 houses. In the nine months to the end of March, 1970, 13,517 grants were approved.

Is my hon. Friend aware that this is the kind of progress which we expect from the Government, and that this is a very important field in which to develop and expand this good work?

I thank my hon. Friend. It certainly is something which we are anxious to expand in every way we can.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the upward movement in the figures is very gratifying and that we hope that they will accelerate upwards still further as a result of the publicity campaign which he mentioned earlier? Will he make effective use of television, in particular, in this campaign?

We shall be using all forms of media, including particularly the local Press, which provides very wide and effective coverage for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many occasions Ministers have attended meetings of the Scottish Economic Development Council.

My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Development and I have attended all meetings of the Scottish Economic Council since I became Chairman.

Is unemployment being used as an instrument of economic policy?

No, Sir.

How many meetings have there been?

There have been four meetings and a lunch.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the anticipated expenditure, at constant prices, on the construction and improvement of trunk and principal roads between 1970 and 1975; how much of this will be provided direct by the central Government; and what were the equivalent sums expended under these headings during the previous corresponding period of five years.

Over the five financial years from 1970–71 to 1974–75 the total expenditure at 1970 prices is estimated at £234 million of which £204 million will be provided by the Government. Information at the same prices is not available for earlier years, but from 1965–66 to 1969–70 actual expenditure was £156 million, of which £139 million was met by the Government.

In view of that satis factory increase in expenditure, will my hon. Friend agree that the continuing expansion of the trunk road system is absolutely essential to the industrial wellbeing of Scotland?

I entirely agree. We are pressing ahead with the road programme as fast as we can.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what financial contribution the Government is prepared to make towards improving the environment in the Glasgow area; and if he will define the circumstances in which this help will be made available.

As indicated in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend on 31st March we are prepared to make available for improving the environment in Glasgow up to £1 million a year in Government grants for each of the next five years. We are discussing with the Corporation the detailed arrangements, including the preparation of the programme of works to be covered, which we have to agree with the corporation.—[Vol. 814, c. 394–5.]

Is my hon. Friend aware that, if this job is done properly, Scotland will have, in Edinburgh and Glasgow, the first-class examples of eighteenth and nineteenth century development, which will be not only a delightful environment for the inhabitants, but a valuable tourist attraction? Will he do all he can to encourage this good work?

I am very grateful to my hon. Friend, particularly in view of his known keen interest in this subject. I hope that this special grant provided by the Government will enable work to be done which would not otherwise have been done.

The hon. Gentleman referred to a special grant. Which legislation does this come under? Apart from the £1 million from the centre, what expenditure does this involve for Glasgow?

This remains to be seen in the details being worked out with the corporation, but much of this will be done under the Local Government Grants (Social Need) Act, 1969, and some of the other work under this special grant may be done under existing legislation. But all the money involved will be extra to what would have been given in any case.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in view of the recent decision of the Fife Planning Authority, if he will now make a statement on the demolition of Rossend Castle, Burnt-island.

My right hon. Friend has directed, under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act, 1969, that the application from Burntisland Town Council to demolish Rossend Castle should be referred to him for decision.

That is a most disappointing reply. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the resounding Labour gains in the Burntisland elections yesterday, which overwhelmingly supported those in favour of demolishing this castle? Will he now have regard for the democratically expressed wishes of the Burntisland people yesterday, of whom more than 63 per cent. voted, and authorise the immediate demolition of this hideous and dangerous monstrosity, which only a few cranks would want to preserve?

As I think the hon. Member knows, I have to preserve the position of my office and the Secretary of State in this matter, as it might come to a public inquiry. But the only object of the information so far and of calling this in is to prevent this building from being demolished without full consideration whether it should be preserved.

In view of the fact that the longer this process goes on the more this will cost the local authority—it is having to spend a tremendous amount of money to support this dangerous building—will the hon. Gentleman see that the decision is expedited and made as soon as possible?

We shall certainly lose no time unnecessarily, but I think that the hon. Gentleman will agree that it would be a pity to do anything irrevocable without proper consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to publish a White Paper on the mentally handicapped; and what steps he is taking at present to improve overcrowding and the provision of personal clothing to the mentally handicapped.

My right hon. Friend does not at present contemplate publishing a White Paper for Scotland, but he is considering whether to issue any further guidance to hospital and local authorities on the planning of services for the mentally handicapped, including measures to relieve overcrowding in hospitals and to improve other facilities.

Will the hon. Gentleman recognise that those of us who have mental hospitals in our constituencies know that many of them are grossly overcrowded? Will he agree that the mental health service is the Cinderella of our Health Service, and that many of the patients, for reasons well known to us all, require clothing? Will he now introduce some provision to obviate this difficulty?

I certainly share the hon. Member's view that more needs to be done and the additional funds which have been made available for the hopsital and social work programme should help in this direction. General guidance on clothing was given in 1968, when the therapeutic value of personal clothing was stressed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for extending facilities to the police to combat the misuse of drugs problem in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

The police already have considerable powers of search and arrest. Specialised drug squads have been set up where needed and training facilities have been expanded.

Is the hon. Member aware that this misuse of drugs problem is not confined to the two largest cities in Scotland, but that certain smaller towns and counties are now affected? Will he ensure that everything possible is done and that every police force in Scotland is given every assistance and encouragement to stop this problem?

I very much share the hon. Member's justified concern on this matter, in that this problem is not confined to Edinburgh and Glasgow. I am personally encouraged by the interest which the police are taking not only in dealing with those who are found with drugs but in taking positive preventive measures as well.

Where have specialised drug squads been set up?

There are specialised drug squads in Edinburgh and Glasgow, and other forces have officers specially trained to deal with this problem.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is yet in a position to make a further statement about the implementation of the Tayside Study.

We await final decisions by the planning authorities on the formation of an industrial development agency and their detailed proposals for a basic programme of restructuring and rejuvenation of the region.

Is my hon. Friend aware that a new factory is likely to be built near Perth by the Michelin Company? Does he share my belief that there is every reason, despite certain setbacks, for confidence in the continuing industrial development of Tayside?

I entirely agree with my hon. Friend. I am aware that a representative of this company has been reported in the Press as saying that the company is strongly interested in ultimately developing at Perth. Naturally, I share my hon. Friend's hopes that this will eventually prove to be a most useful project.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, with a view to avoiding disabled persons being stranded on lonely roads late at night due to the mechanical breakdown of disabled persons' cars, he will provide an additional seat in such cars for a passenger; and if he will make a statement.

The implications of providing invalid vehicles with a passenger seat would be considerable and we have no plans to develop the service in this way.

Is the Under-Secretary aware that a disabled person was recently stranded on a lonely highway until the early hours of the morning and that, but for the passing of a good Samaritan, he would have been stranded there till the following afternoon? Does he appreciate that these circumstances show the reasonableness of our request that an additional seat should be available for a passenger to ensure that the disabled have assistance whenever they require it?

I am distressed to hear about the case which the hon. Gentleman cites. However, his request, though a general one, would have real implications. A review of invalid transport is now being undertaken, but I cannot anticipate its outcome.

I beg the Minister to consider this matter carefully because, apart from the valid point made by the hon. Member for Coatbridge and Airdrie (Mr. Dempsey), there is the antisocial aspect of a disabled person being obliged to travel alone. In the survey which he is conducting will he look with particular care into the difficulties confronting those with respiratory problems, who need transport other than that designed for people with a limited disability?

I am grateful for that observation, which raises an important aspect. It would be wrong for me to anticipate the outcome of the review, but hon. Members can rest assured that all important points will be taken into account.

Is my hon. Friend aware that there is support in all parts of the House for action along the lines that have been mentioned and that we must begin to move to the point at which the disabled are enabled to drive larger cars than the vehicles at present designed for them?

I am aware of the real and sincere feelings that are held in all parts of the House on such matters. We must bear in mind our financial resources, but I assure my hon. Friend that his views will be taken into account in the review.

When will the review be completed? Will its findings be published?

The whole subject is extremely complex and much detailed consideration is necessary to ensure that the disabled receive fair treatment, within the resources that are available. I cannot indicate when the review will be completed, but when it is, an announcement will be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if it is his intention to introduce a winter work programme this year; and if he will make a statement about the size of such a programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what special work programmes he is now considering to alleviate the problem of the rising unemployment in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to maintain the teacher-pupil ratio among ordinary graduates in schools and also among honours graduates.

With permission, I will circulate figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT which show that the ratio of graduates to pupils in secondary schools is being maintained.

Is the Under-Secretary aware that new methods of teaching are rapidly expanding at the primary and secondary level and that this offers a challenge to our present teaching methods? Does he have any information about the serious threat to our numerical standards in Scotland?

I would be very concerned indeed about any threat to our standards in Scotland. However, the number of honours and ordinary graduates who entered training last October was the highest ever, and reports from the colleges of education suggest that the numbers this year will be even higher.

At present I have nothing to add to the projects and proposals in the reply to the hon. Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) on 7th April.—[Vol. 815, c. 135.]

As the only way to reduce unemployment in Scotland this year is by undertaking a massive public works programme, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman for an assurance that he will demand such a programme from the Cabinet and that, if his demand is refused, he will resign? At what point in the rising unemployment scale will he deem it necessary to resign?

I would not say that that was the only way of dealing with the unemployment problem. I am keenly concerned with the long-term position as well as with special winter measures. In the recent winter I announced a programme for Scotland only. Previously such programmes have been announced for the development areas as a whole. I am anxious that we get the economic decisions right, with growth starting, so that we can get investment going again in Scotland.

Does not growth depend on having the proper infrastructure in Scotland? At a time when we have unused resources and may be going into the Common Market, is it not important that we should have, for example, a programme to improve facilities on the East Coast, so resulting in better transport arrangements to the Continent, with an improved land bridge, along with building up a big oil trans-shipment port in the North-West, particularly in view of accidents in the Channel?

I would not like to answer the right hon. Gentleman's final points off the cuff. I agree with him about the need for a proper infrastructure. A lot has been done, is being done and will be increasingly done in Scotland about this and, in particular, the road programme will provide a network of roads which will be of immense value to commerce and industry.

Will the right hon. Gentleman accept that as the general level of unemployment in Scotland is well above the national average while the general level of earnings is below the national average, he should refute the theory to which some of his Cabinet colleagues appear to adhere that the level of unemployment in Scotland is related to excessive wage demands? Will he refute that slander on Scottish workers?

The hon. and learned Gentleman is misinformed about the attitude of my Cabinet colleagues towards Britain as a whole. One of our problems arises from inflationary wage claims, but that is a matter for the country as a whole. The relative unemployment position in Scotland has unfortunately been much the same for many years, and that is something which the Government want to put right.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons were on strike in Scotland at the latest available date; and how this compares with the corresponding period over the last five years.

This is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment, who is sending my hon. Friend the information for which he has asked.

Is it not a fact that the figures reproduced in the Press show that fewer people are on strike in Scotland, that the Government can take credit for this happy situation, particularly because of their firm stand on the Industrial Relations Bill, their handling of public sector wage claims, and their different attitude to abuses of strike benefits?

I understand that the figures which my hon. Friend will be getting go up to the end of 1970 and that they will not bring the position right up to date. However, I agree with his remarks about the aim of the Government, and we are having success in meeting inflation.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that if the Government had spent as much time trying to create new jobs in Scotland as they have spent in trying to weaken the trade unions, the Conservatives would not have suffered such massive defeats in the elections yesterday?

I do not accept any of that.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement regarding the relationship of the Scottish Economic Council to the Public Expenditure Survey.

Although there is no direct connection, naturally any relevant views of the Scottish Economic Council are taken into account in our public expenditure decisions.

Is it not a fact that the Scottish Economic Council gets sight of the "forward look" in terms of the Public Expenditure Survey? If so, what comments has the Council made about the levelling off in housing expenditure in Scotland come the mid-'seventies, which represents an utterly disgraceful state of affairs?

The hon. Gentleman misunderstands the role of the Scottish Economic Council. It is not an elected but an appointed body and it has no decision-making rôle. Its proceedings are confidential, in the same way that its predecessor's proceedings were confidential when the right hon. Member for Kilmarnock (Mr. Ross) was in the chair. Trends are discussed in general, but it does not have any special access to Government figures.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is now in a position to make a statement arising out of representations made to him by the pharmacy industry in Scotland about proposed changes in prescription charges.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what further proposals he now has for increased National Health Service charges.

Arrangements are being made for an early discussion of the Government's proposals with representatives of the pharmaceutical and medical professions.

In giving that answer, the hon. Gentleman must be aware of the mounting concern in Scotland about the proposed increases. Is he aware that pharmacists and their various associations have outrightly condemned increased prescription charges? What sort of co-operation exists between the right hon. Gentleman and the Secretary of State for Social Services in deciding this matter?

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services and I are considering the points which the chemists and doctors have put to us. It would be wrong for me to comment further until our discussions are complete. However, I repeat the assurance that cost-related prescription charges would not be introduced without the fullest consultation with the profession.

Does the Under-Secretary recall that the Chancellor of the Exchequer said that the intention was to increase prescription charges up to 50p per item? What evidence would the Government require to convince them of the wickedness of such a proposition and the viciousness of the taxation involved?

The White Paper did not summarise the proposals in such detailed form. The proposals which we have put forward, our preliminary thinking, will be discussed with the chemists and the doctors. I assure the hon. Gentleman that the charges will not be introduced without meaningful and full consultation with them.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action has been taken by his Department to give greater priority in areas where primary schools are below standard, and to secure a lowering of primary school class sizes generally.

My right hon. Friend has added £4½ million for improvements to the building programme for 1972–73 and announced his intention to introduce more generous staffing standards. He has continued for three years the salary additions in schools of teacher shortage and has empowered education authorities to pay removal expenses to teachers coming to their areas to teach in these schools.

That also is a reasonably good answer. But what about making more money available for building new schools, which would greatly help the building trade, which is in difficulties?

All of us are concerned about the building industry's problems and indeed about problems in education. The extra £4½ million is in addition to the existing programme and will certainly help the building industry and, at the same time, help with our problems in education.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make an official visit to Caldercruix, Lanarkshire.

I shall be glad to visit this area of Lanarkshire when parliamentary and other calls upon my time enable me to include it in my programme.

The Secretary of State will be aware that shortly after the announcement of the closure of Craig's paper mill at Caldercruix on 7th April, I wrote to him asking him to receive a deputation from local churches, trade union leaders, the county councillor and myself. Three weeks later, on 30th April, the Under-Secretary wrote to me saying that he saw no useful purpose in that meeting. Bearing in mind the absolute disaster which has hit the community of Caldercruix, is not the Secretary of State treating my constituents and, for that matter, myself, in an absolutely disgraceful way by refusing even to meet us to discuss the matter? Is he aware that the people will feel that they have been treated with contempt? What form of apology does he think that I should make to them on his behalf? Finally, if he will not meet people to discuss their economic problems, had not he better get rid of these responsibilities to some other Department?

The hon. Gentleman indicated in his speech that he is mistaken in this. As I informed him when we spoke about this at the time of the firm's announcement of closure, I am acutely aware of the effect of such a closure upon a relatively small community where the main source of employment is the factory to be closed. My experience of this comes from three years ago, when the closure of the railway works at Inverurie, near my constituency, occurred on a larger scale. But I would not wish to mislead anyone, including those in Caldercruix, into thinking that my responsibility as Secretary of State for Scotland covered international pricing policies for the paper industry or other matters connected with that industry. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, who is respon- sible for such matters, is very much aware of the problems, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment is giving all possible help to those made redundant.

Surely the Secretary of State has sufficient Ministers—one in Scotland, a Minister of State, as well as a Minister who calls himself the Minister for Development on every possible occasion—that they can show their interest by meetting local people. He mentioned Inverurie. He should be aware that I met delegations from Inverurie here and the Minister of State met them in Inverurie. We did what we could. We were not as successful as we should have liked, but at least we showed our Ministerial presence and concern.

That was a case of a nationalised industry causing a change and the Government were much more affected. This is a matter in which new industry has to be attracted, and my right hon. Friend is mainly concerned with that. If I could do anything to help by seeing a deputation, I or my hon. Friends would be glad to do so. But I must make it clear that other Ministers have the responsibility. It would be wrong for anyone to think that it was within my responsibility to deal with these industrial questions. But I have every concern about the problem, and I have no intention of being discourteous, or anything else, as the hon. Member for Lanarkshire, North (Mr. John Smith) has pretended.

If the right hon. Gentleman has no responsibility, why does he miscall one of his Under-Secretaries "The Under-Secretary of State for Development" when he now says that he has no responsibility for development?

For the same reason that one Department dealing with roads, housing and electricity in the Scottish Office has, since 1962, been called the Development Department. It was made perfectly clear—and if the right hon. Gentleman had bothered to read the announcement at the time, he would have seen this—that when my hon. Friend was given this title, it did not transfer any of the responsibilities which statutorily lie with other Ministers.

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. How can I be assisted to discover from the reply of the Secretary of State whether he will meet the deputation? That is my difficulty. If he will not, in view of the absolutely disgraceful nature of that reply, I beg to give notice that I shall seek an early opportunity of raising the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what further representations he has received from the Scottish inshore fishing industry about the present European Economic Community negotiations; and what replies he has sent.

Since 7th April, I have met representatives of the Scottish inshore fishing industry. I told them again of the Government's immediate recognition of the problem on taking office last June, when we reserved the United Kingdom's position. I also reaffirmed our determination to raise this issue with the Community.

Do the proposals put forward yesterday by the Norwegian Government for the modification of the common fisheries policy have the support of Her Majesty's Government? Will the Minister undertake to give the Government's considered public reaction to these proposals at the earliest possible date?

I am aware of the Norwegian proposals. We are in touch with the Norwegian Government. We shall be studying the proposals closely. The negotiations on the Common Market are a matter for the Government.

My question is very important. Do the Government intend to make public their considered reaction to the Norwegian Government's proposals?

This is a matter between us and the Norwegian Government. On the overall negotiations on the Common Market, we shall be very closely in touch with the Norwegian Government over these matters.

Answer the question.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make an official visit to the aluminium smelter in Ross and Cromarty.

I made an official visit to the smelter on 15th April. This was the third occasion on which I had personally visited the site since work was started there.

In the absence of investment grants, what incentive is there for any subsidiary firm to go to Ross-shire?

A wide range of incentives has been announced since last October, including greater use of grants and loans under the Local Employment Acts, free depreciation, increased infrastructure and various other measures which I shall be glad to supply to the hon. Gentleman if he is not fully aware of them.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many local authorities are currently using the power to support essential rural bus services; and what action is being taken by his Department to ensure wider use by local authorities of these powers.

Five local authorities are receiving Government grant in support of rural bus subsidies; two more have submitted applications to my right hon. Friend; and I understand that others have proposals under consideration. Whether or not local authorities exercise their power is a matter for their own discretion, but my right hon. Friend has fully explained to them the financial support the Government can give.

My hon. Friend will be aware of the very real hardship which can occur in rural areas in which bus services are at risk. Will he bear in mind the very great danger which would result from any further rail closures which may be contemplated in those areas, which would certainly make the position even more serious than it is at present?

As my hon. Friend knows, the rail closure question is one for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. On bus services, I hope that local authorities will take the closest look at any services which are being withdrawn in their areas, and will consider the fact that the Government provide a 50 per cent. grant immediately, and also support the remaining expenditure by the local authority through the rate support grant.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what increase has taken place in the last six years in the value and quantity of fish landed in Scottish ports by the inshore fishing fleet of Great Britain.

Over the period 1965–70 there has been a 9 per cent. increase in landings by weight and 47 per cent. by value. With permission, I will circulate the annual figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Do not those figures demonstrate forcibly the need to continue protecting our inshore waters? Is it not essential for the Government to go further than merely reserving their position? Should they not state categorically that they will not accept the Community's fisheries policy?

I have already said, as have Government colleagues of mine, that we find the Community's fisheries policy unsatisfactory. This is precisely why we are taking the matter up with the Community.

Why have the Government left it to the Norwegian Government to make public proposals for the protection of inshore fleets? Why cannot the British Government make proposals for the protection of inshore fleets which can be considered by the Community?

Every Government applying for membership of the Community must make their own tactical assessment of the situation. The Norwegians have approached the matter in their way. They are perfectly entitled to approach it in their way, if they wish to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made to date in his discussions with the local authorities concerned with the proposed Glasgow area passenger transport authority; and if he will make a statement.

I cannot yet add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Gorbals (Mr. McElhone) on 24th February.—[Vol. 812, c. 548–49.]

Will my hon. Friend confirm whether as part of these transport inquiries the Lomond-Maryhill Road is to be advanced in 1975? If so, might he not reconsider the decision to massacre the beauty of the Great Western Road, which is about the most noble entry to any city in Europe and one which Glasgow should not be forced to lose in circumstances which now seem to have changed since my right hon. Friend made his decision?

The Lomond Expressway is one of the questions that we must take into account in considering the whole matter of transport in the Glasgow area. I know my hon. Friend's interest in the Great Western Road. The corporation's present proposals involve a much smaller degree of destruction of the Great Western Road than was previously the case, and include the preservation of all the trees.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he can now give the starting date for a secondary school at Garrowhill, Lanarkshire; when it will be ready for occupation; and whether the approved plans provide for a swimming pool.

The education authority now plans to start this project in October, 1971, and hopes to complete it in time for session 1973–74. The sketch plans do not include a swimming pool, but the authority now proposes to provide pools at this and two other secondary schools and has asked for a meeting to discuss the matter.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that I met 254 of my constituents concerning this problem? I am happy to hear from him that it was in the initial stages the Scottish Office which denied local authorities the right to build swimming pools; this caused a great deal of concern as all the previous schools have swimming pools.

Swimming pools are expensive. We want to avoid undue duplication of facilities. In view of the authority's new move, I can assure the hon. Gentleman that whatever representations it makes will be very carefully considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his latest estimate of the secondary teacher shortage in those areas of Scotland where the pupil-teacher ratio is higher than the average.

We have not made separate estimates for education authority areas, but the bulk of the estimated shortage of 1,000 teachers given in the reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeen, South (Mr. Sproat) on 23rd April is accounted for by three authorities: Glasgow, Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire.—[Vol. 815, c. 481.]

In view of the grave position in those areas of Scotland, does my hon. Friend intend to raise the school-leaving age throughout Scotland in 1972–73? Is there not a danger that the raising of the leaving age in areas of grave teacher shortage will depress the standard of secondary education rather than elevate it?

On the general question of the school-leaving age, I have nothing to add to the replies that I gave to my hon. Friend on 3rd and 24th February and 7th April. We are closely studying the situation in places where there is a serious teacher shortage, and we will make every possible endeavour to attract teachers to these areas.

As we have not so far heard, at least not in my hearing, that there is a grave teacher shortage in Scotland, does the Minister stand by the description given by the hon. Member for Perth and East Perthshire (Mr. MacArthur)? Does the Minister intend to use something that he has never declared existed as a reason for evading his solemn duty to raise the school-leaving age?

My right hon. Friend, in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeen, South on 23rd April, indicated that the present shortage of teachers was estimated at about 1,000. As the hon. Gentleman knows from a previous answer that I gave him, the number of graduates entering the profession has been increasing, and we hope that that improvement will continue.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland for what reasons he is refusing to end the reference panel system in education and the employment of unqualified teachers; and if he will make a statement.

Because there is still a shortage of qualified secondary teachers in some areas. In future, however, the approval of the panel will be required before an unqualified teacher starts work.

Will the hon. Gentleman clear our minds on other answers which are contingent on this? Does he mean to lead us to believe that the number of unqualified teachers in Scotland is so great that it will bar educational progress in Scotland, and particularly the raising of the school-leaving age?

The hon. Gentleman consistently raises wider questions on matters relating to specific Questions. But in view of his interest in the matter, I can tell him that I certainly hope that the continuing improvement in secondary staffing will lead to a further fall in the number of unqualified teachers, which, at the last count, was only 380.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will give for the longest and most convenient stated period of time the names of Members of both Houses of Parliament who have been appointed by Her Majesty's Government to state boards and other paid appointments, the salaries now received and details of the appointments held.

The information is not readily available and the cost of obtaining it would be disproportionate.

I am amazed at that reply because I can give the Minister the answer without going into any details. Can he explain why the Government attack increases for lower-paid workers when they ask for a few pounds a week extra, while at the same time thousands of pounds extra can be given to the higher-paid civil servants without a murmur coming from the Government? Only last week the Tory-controlled G.L.C. announced increases of £76 per week on salaries of £9,700 a year, and I am still waiting to hear an adverse comment from the Prime Minister or any other Minister about that. Will the Minister condemn such astronomical increases?

All that is very interesting, but I cannot see how it arises on this Question.

On a point of order. If the Minister had given me the answer about salaries he would have seen the relevance on my question.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will cease the present practice whereby his Department keep under constant review the prices and charges for which he has responsibility, and initiate a system of monthly reviews of such prices and charges to enable him to show from month to month to what extent since June, 1970 the Government's policy of reducing prices and costs is operating so far as it affects his departmental responsibilities; and whether he will make a statement.

No, Sir.

Again, if only the Minister would give the information requested by my Question he would be able to see the relevance of my supplementary question on Question 35 and we should then be able to tell how far the Government are implementing their promise to reduce prices, to reduce the number of civil servants and to reduce the cost of the Civil Service, and we could have a month-to-month account to see how far the Government are succeeding. If the Minister will not give us the information, neither we nor the country at large can make a judgment of the Government's success.

It is still difficult to see how these questions arise from the Question. The cost of collecting the answers to both these Questions would he disproportionate in terms of taxpayers' money.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what plans he has for seeking to reduce the number of persons who have statutory powers to enter the homes of people suspected neither of criminal activity nor of activities prejudicial to the state.

The operation of these powers is kept under regular surveillance in the relevant departments. If my hon. Friend has a particular statutory power in mind perhaps she will tell me.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the list of bodies which are given statutory powers to enter people's homes contains no fewer than 280 Schedules, Acts and parts of Acts? Is not this too long a list to be countenanced by a Conservative Government and must we not preserve the principle that an Englishman's home is his castle?

I sympathise with my hon. Friend's concern. The complete list of names contained in my letter to my hon. Friend is for all the forms of entry into all forms of property. Entry into people's homes arises only under a minority of statutory powers. If my hon. Friend has a particular statutory power which is worrying her, I will look into it.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he can now state the number of non-industrial civil servants in post on 1st April, 1971 and 1st January, 1971.

On 1st January there were 499,690 and on 1st April, 498,425.

I thank my hon. Friend for that reply, which indicates yet another promise kept. Does he hope to continue this satisfactory reduction?

I am grateful for my hon. Friend's comment. It is the Government's policy to maintain containment and, if possible, to reduce the Civil Service. I think that my hon. Friend has recognised that this is a step in the right direction.

What will impress the House rather more is the elimination of work, not the transference of work from inside the Civil Service to outside the Civil Service.

I did not say anything about that. It is essential to the Government's policy to reduce the functions, from which will follow the reduction of burdens, from which will follow the reduction of numbers. That is the Government's aim. That is the policy we are pursuing.

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the very real concern expressed on both sides of the Chamber about the circumstances which led to the establishment of the committee of inquiry into the Post Office industrial dispute and the fact that its establishment was announced in the House, may I ask whether you have received a request from the Secretary of State for Employment or the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications to make a statement about the report of the committee which has been sitting during the past few weeks? If you have not had such a request, will you ask the Leader of the House why he has allowed Parliament to be ignored in this way?

I am not sure that I am under an obligation to answer the hon. Gentleman's question. If I had received such a request I would have called the right hon. Gentleman the Secretary of State for Employment.