25. Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, as announced at a meeting of the Edinburgh Town Council on Tuesday last, it is proposed to remove the headquarters of the Scottish and Northern Division of the Labour Exchanges and Unemployment Insurance from Glasgow to Edinburgh; and, if so, on what grounds?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Robertson)It is the fact, as stated in the first part of my hon. Friend's question, that it is proposed at an early date to remove the Divisional Office for Labour Exchanges and Unemployment Insurance for the Scotland and Northern Division from Glasgow to Edinburgh. It was found that the existing premises in Glasgow were inadequate for the growing needs of the office. When the question of new premises came under review, it was decided, having regard to all the facts, and especially to the large and increasing volume of inter-communication between the Divisional Office and various Government Departments in Scotland, most of which are situated in Edinburgh, that it was desirable that this office should be situated in the same city, which is also geographically more central, in view of the fact that the Scottish and Northern Division includes the northern Counties of England as well as Scotland. Premises have accordingly been taken in Edinburgh, and are being rapidly adapted.
Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTWould it not be desirable that the central office of the Labour Exchanges should be in the centre of the industrial district?
Mr. ROBERTSONI have explained that it is not merely the Scottish industrial district but the North of England also, and that the convenience of inter-communication between the Government Departments and this office is a very important factor.
Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTIs not Glasgow as easily accessible to the industrial centres of the North of England as Edinburgh?