I start by congratulating the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood) on instigating this debate, and the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith) and the hon. Member for Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale (Mr. Moore) for joining him in raising the important issue of the economic Crisis in the Borders and the Question of economic development in that area and in north Northumberland.