§ 37. Mr. Manuelasked the Minister of Labour if he will state the extent of 2028 present unemployment or short-time in the shipbuilding industry in Scotland.
§ Mr. IsaacsOn 12th June, the latest date for which figures are available, 3,292 workers whose last employment was in the shipbuilding and ship-repairing industry were registered as unemployed in Scotland, including 231 who were only temporarily stopped from their employment. Statistics are not available of the number of workpeople on short-time but not registered as unemployed.
§ Mr. ManuelWould my right hon. Friend consider consulting with the President of the Board of Trade with a view to providing alternative employment where unemployment has arisen in the shipbuilding yards, in order to avoid the unemployment we had in the years before the war?
§ Mr. IsaacsAs has been previously reported to the House, these negotiations with the President of the Board of Trade are and have been continuing, and efforts are made to attract heavy industry into these areas. We can get light industries, but what are required are heavy industries.
§ Mr. Hector HughesAs the right hon. Gentleman has the figures for the various districts of Scotland, can he say how many relate to the city of Aberdeen?
§ Mr. IsaacsI am not the memory man. If the hon. and learned Gentleman puts that Question down I will give an answer.