§ 7. Mr. M. MacMillanasked the Minister of Labour the percentage of unemployment in the Stornoway area and the numbers of unemployed in each category at the latest count.
§ Mr. WatkinsonAt 12th January the numbers of unemployed persons on the registers of the Stornoway employment exchange were 1,426 men, 74 boys under 18, 270 women and 63 girls under 18. The total of 1,833 represented about 36 per cent. of the estimated total number of employees in the area
§ Mr. MacMillanIt is hardly necessary to ask whether the Parliamentary Secretary regards this as a very serious state of affairs, since I have already raised this matter on the Adjournment and in Questions to the Minister. Can he say whether any special measures are going to be taken as a matter of urgency in this very serious case?
§ Mr. WatkinsonI entirely agree with the hon. Member in saying that this is a most urgent and tragic situation for the people concerned. I do not deny that. The hon. Member has asked Questions of almost every Government Department. All I can tell him is that we are working together to do our best to meet this very difficult situation, but he knows the local problems and difficulties as well as I do.
§ Mr. John MacLeodHas the Minister studied the Cairncross Report, and does not he think that the actions advised there should be followed?
§ Mr. WatkinsonYes, we are doing so.