§ 35. Mr. Gallacherasked the Minister of Labour if his attention has been drawn to the increase of unemployment in Scotland and, in particular, to the high percentage of unemployment in Glasgow; and what steps he is taking to remedy this situation.
§ Mr. IsaacsYes, Sir. The Government's policy to meet this situation is to ensure the provision of additional opportunities for work and the steps which have been taken to this end are already showing their effect. If my hon. Friend desires detailed particulars of the progress made I would ask him to put down a Question to my right hon. and learned Friend the President of the Board of Trade.
§ Mr. KirkwoodIs not my right hon. Friend aware that the growing unemployment in Glasgow and the West of Scotland generally is causing alarm? Take John Brown's yard, for instance If they could get 200 more tons of steel each week they could employ 1,000 or 1,500 more men than they do at the moment. That applies to all shipyards on the Clyde.
§ Mr. IsaacsYes, Sir, but the Ministry of Labour cannot supply the 200 tons of steel. The situation in Scotland, I am happy to say, is improving. New projects, additional industrial establishments, are going ahead, a number are in operation, and a great number of others are actually in progress. Although they will not change the situation overnight, there is considerable improvement going on.
§ Captain MacLeodIs it not a fact that if the Government had a policy for the Highlands and treated them as a development area, it would decrease unemployment in Glasgow?
§ Mr. GallacherWhile I agree that the right hon. Gentleman and the Government are doing their best, will not the right hon. Gentleman and his colleagues, in view of the increase in unemployment, make an effort to do better than their best?
§ Mr. IsaacsYes, Sir. I spent last week end in that area going over the matter. At the Hillington training establishment we are already doing better than our best.
§ Mr. ScollanIs my right hon. Friend aware that while shipyards on the Clyde are wanting steel we have a factory which cost £1¼million, for the making of steel, standing idle at Linwood Road? What is he doing about that?
§ Mr. IsaacsThat place has been under consideration by a very eminent national firm of engineers for a long time. Had they said, "Yes," it would have been all right, but they said, "No,' and now we have to start all over again to find someone else who will take it
§ Mr. SpenceCan the right hon. Gentleman give us an assurance that the export of sheet steel for shipbuilding will be stopped, so that we can keep it at home for our own workmen?
§ Mr. IsaacsThe hon. Member might ask me about the export of manpower, but should not make me responsible for answering on the export of sheet steel.