Mr Dick Douglas: I thank the Secretary of State for his reply, but does he not concur that what is wrong with the Scottish economy is not the inadequacy or the quality of the economic advice offered to him but his insufficiency in carrying out the good advice? Will he do something about the malaise into which the Scottish economy is getting, and not present to the Scottish people a series of petty and...
Mr Dick Douglas: asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the level of the Government's financial support to the Scottish Council, Development and Industry.
Mr Dick Douglas: I thank the Secretary of State for his reply, but does he not agree that there are dangers in a body like the Scottish Council, which is independent and has acted as a valuable sounding board for policy, being brought too much into the governmental orbit? We do not want the situation to arise from this that the Government withdraw from their rightful rôle of attracting new industry to Scotland.
Mr Dick Douglas: If I recall correctly, Article 3(3) of the Treaty contains a specific pledge to consult the Joint Committee set up by the Tripartite Agreement in relation to any economic changes affecting the operation of the Agreement. Did the Government consult the Joint Committee before they changed the method of investment incentive?
Mr Dick Douglas: The task which the hon. Gentleman is to give to the private merchant bank was within the orbit, and, indeed, was a direct function of, the I.R.C. which his Government have destroyed.
Mr Dick Douglas: It is very pleasant to take part in a debate in which so many knowledgeable right hon. and hon. Members have participated. I was particularly struck by the knowledge and experience of the hon. Member for Abingdon (Mr. Neave), who distinguished himself as a former Member of the Select Committee on Science and Technology. Both sides of the House welcome his accession to the Chair of that...
Mr Dick Douglas: Does not my hon. Friend agree that if there is now to be discussion about valuation they should be publicly presented?
Mr Dick Douglas: asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will have further discussions with the Confederation of British Industry on the consequences of inflation.
Mr Dick Douglas: Will the right hon. Gentleman stress to the representatives of the Confederation of British Industry that we deplore the present practice of passing forward increasing unit costs to the consumer in the form of higher prices?
Mr Dick Douglas: asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to Debden in Essex.
Mr Dick Douglas: Would the right hon. Gentleman not acknowledge that he should have taken the opportunity to exonerate the workers at the Bank of England's printing works at Debden from charges of excessive over-production in the creation of notes? Would he also acknowledge or deny that, if the Government continue to rely excessively on monetary policy, we could well reach unemployment in the region of two...
Mr Dick Douglas: Would the hon. and learned Gentleman concede that an indisputable factor required for this Commission to work is the co-operation of the trade unions? Does not this Bill deny that type of co-operation?
Mr Dick Douglas: The Bill applies to Scotland, and it should not do so. A Scottish Minister is sitting on the Government Benches and he has said nothing about Scotland. In answer to previous questions about Amendments, the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department misled the House on the Scottish issue. He referred to water hoards in England and Wales. So far as his answer related to England and...
Mr Dick Douglas: I accept what the hon. Gentleman says, but there was an indication that it would not apply to water boards and it looked as if it would apply comprehensively. The Scottish Minister on the Government Front Bench might argue that the Government have a mandate in Scotland for the Bill. They certainly have no moral mandate in Scotland. The legislation applies to a few local authorities and to a...
Mr Dick Douglas: asked the Prime Minister if he will appoint a Scot to the Central Capability Unit in the Cabinet Office.
Mr Dick Douglas: Is the Prime Minister aware of the widespread criticism from all sections of the community in Scotland about the decision to alter I.D.C. policy? Will the right hon. Gentleman see to it that Scotland's voice is heard in the higher echelons, bearing in mind that we are sick and tired of having a Secretary of State who loses Scotland's battles in the Cabinet?
Mr Dick Douglas: Would the hon. Gentleman not also concede that the demand by the public for greater services from the public sector as a whole has resulted in the need to increase tax revenue overall? Both go together, and there is no point in the hon. Gentleman speaking about one without taking the other into consideration.
Mr Dick Douglas: Dreadful conditions.
Mr Dick Douglas: I was very interested in the comments of the hon. Member for St. Marylebone (Mr. Kenneth Baker). His closing remarks touched upon an aspect which is dear to my heart, perhaps for different reasons from the one he mentioned on the basis of the Report. He stressed the need to simplify the tax system by trying to get a net payment between the Inland Revenue and the social security system. This...
Mr Dick Douglas: asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish his estimate of the effect on Scottish local authority rent levels of a fair rents policy and the balancing of the housing revenue accounts.