asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action the Government propose to take on the proposals contained in the report of the Scottish Council (Development and Industry) entitled "A Future For Scotland"; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that the Scottish Council has yet to consider the report which the committee under Professor Nicoll prepared at its invitation. I shall be studying its terms with interest.

Is the Minister aware that the report recommended that priorities must be given to the development of complexes, including oil refining, on the Hunterston peninsula? Is he further aware that on 19th November the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry stated in a Written Answer to me: It is the Government's policy to encourage home refinery capacity."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 19th November 1973; Vol. 864, c. 302.] When will the Secretary of State carry out Government policy and announce a decision on the many applications which are before him for permission to develop steel and oil refining complexes at Hunterston? If he cannot answer that question today, will he say when the Cabinet will be reshuffled, so that we shall get someone else to represent Scotland who can make a decision on these matters?

I presume that the hon. Gentleman has discussed this with the ladies who chained themselves to the railings near the House yesterday. He will know that the decision for industrial development at Hunterston has been taken by me and that the question now is how to use this valuable site for the best possible purposes for the good of Scotland. It is a matter of getting the combination of industry which can make the best use of the deep water at this valuable site.

Once this excellent body has had an opportunity to digest the report, will my right hon. Friend consider putting to it the proposition that it might next investigate something a little more concrete, something like, for instance, the prospect for the family company in Scotland, which plays such a vital part in the prosperity of the country and to which so far the Scottish Council has paid no attention?

The Scottish Council has not yet considered this report or endorsed any of its suggestions. The Scottish Council commissions studies of various kinds. I am sure that if my hon. Friend got in touch with it about the point that he has raised—

I have done so.

Well, I hope that the council will pursue it.

In the three and a half years during which the Secretary of State has been at the Scottish Office, nothing has happened at Hunterston. It is true that he has assented to certain planning principles, but is it not the case that he has not approved any of the applications before him, in particular the refining propositions put to him by at least two companies?

No, the hon. Gentleman is wrong. I have given individual planning permission for the iron ore terminal and the necessary paper on that is at present before Parliament.

Will my right hon. Friend invite this body to declare that there will be no future for Scotland at all if the Labour Party nationalises North Sea oil?

That is a conclusion which many people will have reached without requiring any council to make a pronouncement upon it.

How many proposals does the Secretary of State at present have before him for decision in relation to Hunterston? Secondly, when will we get decisions?

There are two main applications before me on this matter, but I could not give a complete catalogue of the applications without notice.