§ 55. Mr. GARRO-JONESasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that bordering on many Scottish burghs scheduled for preference in the allocation of Government contract, there are other burghs in which depressed conditions are just as acute as in the scheduled burghs, and that the comparative position of Aberdeen and Dundee is a case in point; and whether he can give an assurance that the principle of preference shall not be applied in such cases to the detriment of the unscheduled area?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADAll areas, in which the rate of unemployment is as stated in the reply which I gave to the question put by the hon. Member for Don Valley on 9th March (Mr. T. Williams), are included in the list of areas to which the preference applies. The rate of unemployment among men of 18 years and over (averaged over 12 months) is 19.9 per cent. in Aberdeen, as compared with 28.8 per cent, in Dundee.
§ Mr. GARRO-JONESIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that my question takes full account of that reply? What I want to ascertain is whether, in collateral circumstances which may bring an area not scheduled into the category of districts which are as equally depressed as those which are scheduled, he will not apply his principle to the detriment of the unscheduled area?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADThe particular conditions on which areas are scheduled have already been made known in this House. The list of scheduled 27 depressed areas is capable of adjustment from time to time, but for the moment no other conditions apply.
§ Mr. GARRO-JONESIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware—to give one specific example—that the weekly distribution of Poor Law benefit in Aberdeen is greater than in Dundee and that that is a criterion equally valuable as an indication of the degree of distress existent there; and is he further aware that his answer takes no account whatever of the terms of my question, but deals with something that we already know?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADI have already said that the conditions under which areas are scheduled as depressed have already been made known, and those are the conditions which exist at the present time. No doubt the particular conditions to which the hon. Member refers are what he says, but they do not happen to be the conditions under which a scheduled area is depressed.
§ Mr. JOHNSTONIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that there are areas now, particularly in Scotland, where the rate of unemployment is very much higher than that in the scheduled areas, and that under the non-scheduled areas they are actually forbidden to give preference?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEADIf the right hon. Gentleman will bring any cases to my notice where certain areas are not included in the list and are qualified under the conditions that have been laid down, I shall be pleased to consider them.
§ Mr. GARRO-JONESIn view of the fact that the answer of the Minister completely ignores the matter in my question, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment.