§ 13. Mr. David Steelasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many closures and company liquidations there have been in the area covered by the Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles constituency in the past six months.
§ Mr. YoungerComprehensive statistics of factory closures and liquidations are not available by area. However, there has been one instance of redundancy notified to the MSC involving 10 or more workers and arising in the context of closure during the period August 1982 to January 1983.
§ Mr. SteelIs the Secretary of State for Scotland aware that people in my constituency, as elsewhere in Scotland, become increasingly depressed when they read in their local papers week by week of partial or complete closures of companies? Is he aware that the CBI industrial trends survey published yesterday forecast that over the next six months investment in manufacturing industry would decrease further? Will he use his leverage in the Cabinet to get the Chancellor of the Exchequer to produce a Budget that will be of real help to investment in industry?
§ Mr. YoungerI agree with the right hon. Gentleman that it is extremely discouraging to see reports of jobs being lost and firms being closed. However, it is also encouraging when one sees expansions and success stories, as he has had, for example, in his constituency with Fiber Materials Incorporated, Exacta Circuits and BEPI Electronics. I agree with the right hon. Gentleman that it is desirable that the Government should continue their important work in making life easier for industry, particularly by reducing the national insurance surcharge, introduced capriciously by the previous Government and acknowledged by them as having done nothing useful.