Sir Fitzroy Maclean: I begin by giving my reasons for objecting to the Bill. I realise that I am not likely to defeat a measure which seems to enjoy the enthusiastic support of both Front Benches. I wish to secure a debate and so make certain that the views of my constituents are at least heard. It is what I might call the juggernaut aspect of this bit of business which I find unattractive and disturbing. There...
Sir Fitzroy Maclean: I expressly said that I was prepared to believe that the British Steel Corporation might need a new iron ore terminal. What I contest is that it is necessary to have it at Hunterston when there are several other places where it could equally well go.
Sir Fitzroy Maclean: I did not want to bore the House when I suggested Ardrossan and mentioned Ardmore again and again, and forwarded to the right hon. Member for Kilmarnock (Mr. Ross) and my right hon. Friend the present Secretary of State an adequate plan drawn up by Mr. Morton, outlining all the possibilities of Ardrossan, which is crying out for development.
Sir Fitzroy Maclean: Does the hon. Member not agree that it is all part of the same package? My right hon. Friend has made it clear that with the iron ore terminal will come all these other developments. In the hon. Member's time at the Scottish Office minutes were sent to me by mistake, which made it clear that what the Scottish Office was concerned about was industrial development and an increase of population...
Sir Fitzroy Maclean: Is it not a fact that at that time it was proposed to reclaim 9,000 acres on either side of the Clyde near Ardmore? Also, would not Ardmore be nearer people and the centre of things?
Sir Fitzroy Maclean: Does the right hon. Gentleman not agree that if I had not objected we should not have had a debate on this measure?
Sir Fitzroy Maclean: I am talking about the Bill.
Sir Fitzroy Maclean: Apart from political affiliations, will my right hon. Friend bear in mind geographical considerations and, in filling the remaining appointments, will he see that adequate representation is given to North Ayrshire, about which I have written to him?
Sir Fitzroy Maclean: Is my right hon. Friend aware that the Isle of Bute would be an ideal site for the European Trade Mark Centre?
Sir Fitzroy Maclean: I have listened with interest to the speech of the hon. Member for Midlothian (Mr. Eadie) and I agree with a certain amount of what he said. Where I do not agree with him is in blaming Scotland's misfortunes on the present Government rather than on previous Labour administrations who have been equally responsible for Scottish affairs for roughly half the last quarter of a century. As the hon....
Sir Fitzroy Maclean: I should like to give way to the hon. Gentleman, because his interventions are always so helpful, but I am sure that he will catch Mr. Speaker's eye later on and will then be able to develop his case. I shall be told—perhaps this is what the hon. Gentleman was going to say—that one cannot making a living out of scenery. But many of my constituents engaged in the tourist industry do...
Sir Fitzroy Maclean: It is just beginning. On the other hand, my right hon. Friend is beset by the uninformed clamour and pressure that he should not just sit there but should do something about Hunterston, that he should send anything there, whether it makes economic sense or not. For my part I hope that my right hon. Friend will not be tempted to give in to that sort of pressure, especially when he has before...
Sir Fitzroy Maclean: Quite true. It was not. But things are rapidly getting that way with Hunterston. I am only thankful that my right hon. Friend's affinities with the great Liberal leader are, to say the least, limited.
Sir Fitzroy Maclean: I am very grateful to my right hon. Friend for his intervention and I hope that he will continue in that spirit. By one of those happy coincidences that occur only once or twice in a political career but that do so much to brighten it when they do, I came into possession four years ago of the Scottish Office minutes on the nuclear security aspects of this whole question. We were told 16 or...
Sir Fitzroy Maclean: May I ask my right hon. Friend whether he is aware that the Isle of Arran is being harassed by British trawlermen and would he draw this situation to the attention of his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland to see that the law is enforced?
Sir Fitzroy Maclean: I listened with interest to what the hon. Member for Bothwell (Mr. James Hamilton) said, particularly about the employment of young people. I agree that it is vital, but I cannot help feeling that perhaps the hon. Gentleman is a little pessimistic. Two of the latest sets of figures seem to me to be quite encouraging. The number of unemployed school leavers has fallen by 500 to 1,637. That...
Sir Fitzroy Maclean: I was going to start by congratulating the Opposition on their timing, in choosing today for this particular debate. Until I listened to the speech of the right hon. Member for Kilmarnock (Mr. Ross), I hoped that this showed an entirely new spirit of fair play and generosity on his part. For what other motive could he have had in choosing a time when there is such a marked improvement in both...
Sir Fitzroy Maclean: Sorry: Rolls-Royce, but it does really not matter very much which. The fact is that 4,000 workers have been laid off because of an inter-union dispute—not a dispute between the employer and the workers, and any would-be foreign investor reading the Scottish or British Press will find dozens of such news items. Whatever the right hon. Gentleman may say, that sort of thing will not encourage...
Sir Fitzroy Maclean: The hon. Gentleman is still my constituent, whether he voted for me or not. I have always had a feeling that he did not vote for me, especially when he was standing against me as my political opponent. But, although we may disagree on these minor points, I am sure that the hon. Gentleman and I are agreed in welcoming the improvement that there has been in the employment figures for North...
Sir Fitzroy Maclean: I said that I thought that the prospects were better. I have already said that the unemployment figures are too high. The figure of 14 per cent. in Saltcoats is one that is open to debate. In fact, I was debating it only last Friday with the father of the hon. Member for Ayrshire, Central, and I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will agree that his father is as formidable a debater as he is. In...
