§ 44. Mr. Formanasked the Minister of Labour to make a statement on representations made to him recently by the Scottish Trades Union Congress on the subject of unemployment in Scotland.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodDuring my recent visit to Scotland I had an informal talk with members of the General Council of the Scottish Trades Union Congress about the employment situation. Some of the questions put to me had reference to the future of particular industries in Scotland and I am bringing these to the notice of my right hon. Friends, the President of the Board of Trade and the Secretary of State for Scotland.
§ Mr. FormanI should like to ask the right hon. Gentleman if, in view of the fact that we have 57,000 unemployed in Scotland, and only 18,000 jobs to fill, he would use his influence with the President of the Board of Trade to bring new industries to Scotland in order to try to restore the balance as between the two countries closer than it is at present?
§ Mr. MacleodThose figures are approximately correct. It is certainly true that the problem in Scotland differs a great deal from that in other parts of these islands. These were purely informal talks, in which a number of points were put to me, and I am raising those with my colleagues. However, it is important to add to the figures given by the hon. Gentleman that, although it is true that the problem for Scotland may be much more difficult than it is for England, it is still a great deal more satisfactory than it has ever been before in any peace-time year.
§ Mr. LawsonIs the Minister aware that a large part of the reduction in unemployment in Scotland is due undoubtedly to the fact that Scotland is losing between 22,000 and 25,000 as emigrants a year?
§ Mr. MacleodYes, but the fact still remains that although at the moment unemployment there may be 2.7 or 2.8 per cent., which is a great deal higher than 1.2 per cent. which is the national figure, it is a great deal lower in Scotland today than it has been for many years past.
§ Mr. WoodburnWill the right hon. Gentleman break up those figures and say what is the unemployment amongst skilled workers in Scotland and whether the proportion of unskilled or less skilled workers is higher in the figures he has given?
§ Mr. MacleodI could not do that without notice, but in Scotland, as in all other places, there is practically no problem in obtaining employment for skilled men.