asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in his report on industry in Scotland, he is able to record any progress in getting new industries into the Development Areas of Stirlingshire and Ross-shire, respectively.

In the small part of Stirlingshire which has been scheduled as a Development Area there were two small industrial developments near Campsie in 1955; and there have, of course, been very substantial developments in the adjoining Falkirk-Grangemouth district. There were no fresh factory developments in the Ross and Cromarty part of the Highland Development Area in that year. The Forestry Commission is negotiating for the acquisition of further land for planting in both Stirlingshire and Ross and Cromarty.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these are probably the two Development Areas which have had least success in this policy? Is he keeping both areas under his attention in order to see what can be done? It is true that Stirlingshire has had some development, but Ross and Cromarty have had practically none at all. It looks as if private enterprise were quite incapable of making a success of anything there. Will the right hon. Gentleman consider taking State action?

The right hon. Gentleman will probably recollect that the Highland Development Area produces special difficulties owing to the small pockets of unemployment which are scattered throughout a wide area. I assure him that we keep these matters under constant review and will do our best.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in condoning the action of the Herring Industry Board, which refused to support a private firm which wished to go to Avoch in the Ross-shire Development Area to build a fishmeal factory, he has turned down a very necessary industry for that area? If he had agreed to that proposal he would have had some progress to report now. It is deplorable that no industry has developed in that area since it was scheduled.

My hon. Friend will be well aware that although the Herring Industry Board wished to build this factory, the unfortunate fact is that the Fortrose Town Council is very much opposed to it.