Shale-Oil Industry (Hansard, 8 May 1956)

§ 14. Mr. Pryde
asked the Minister of Labour if his attention has been drawn to the serious situation at present confronting the workers in the shale-oil industry of Mid and West Lothian; and what steps he is taking to secure alternative employment for these workers.

§ Mr. Iain Macleod
I understand that about 500 workers in the shale-oil industry will become redundant within the next three months. As opportunities for alternative work in the area are limited, workers in their own interests would be well advised to register with the local employment exchanges before their present employment is terminated.

§ Mr. Pryde
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that that answer does not give a full picture? In view of the urgency and magnitude of the problem in this home of the oil industry in the old world, will not the right hon. Gentleman consider urging upon the Government the setting up of a committee with powers to deal with this scheduled area which has had nothing done for it and where our oil industry has been drowned in a deluge of imported foreign oil?

§ Mr. Macleod
I know a little about the problems of the shale-oil industry, and I have read carefully the interesting Adjournment debate which was initiated by the hon. Member for West Lothian (Mr. J. Taylor), a short time ago. I should like to study the hon. Member's suggestion about a committee of investigation into the industry, though I find it hard to think that such a committee would get over the difficulties which we all recognise the industry is facing.

Mr. Lee
Now that the Notification of Vacancies Order is no longer applicable, would the right hon. Gentleman do what he can to give special notice to these people that they should go to the employment exchange in order to ensure that their lack of employment is known? Is it possible, within the Distribution of Industry Acts, to get Government factories erected in these areas so that industry may provide alternative employment?

§ Mr. Macleod
We are doing what we can to encourage people to register early, and also to provide within the area alternative work for them, but I am bound to say that is a rather difficult problem. As for the second part of the hon. Member's supplementary question, I believe that point was raised in the Adjournment debate to which I have referred and was answered by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade.