§ 7. Mrs. Mannasked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed men, women, boys and girls in Lanarkshire as at the latest date; and what percentage of the Scottish total it represents.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodAt 15th October, 1956, there were 11,068 men, 5,102 women, 335 boys, and 208 girls registered as unemployed in Lanarkshire. The total of 16,713 represented 34.2 per cent. of the total number registered as unemployed in Scotland.
§ Mrs. MannDoes the Minister recognise that that indicates that something ought to be done for Lanarkshire? Is he aware that we can give him particulars of firms which are complaining that they could extend their export trade very much indeed if they had factories available for the extension of their businesses? Would he look into this, if I send him particulars?
§ Mr. MacleodOf course, we will look into the facts and figures if the hon. Lady likes to send them to me. It is also true, as she knows, that the number of employees in Lanarkshire is 32 per cent. of the total number of employees in Scotland and, therefore, the unemployment figure that I have just given has to be taken into account in that setting. On the general question of providing factories, I think that my hon. Friend the Joint Under-Secretary of State for Scotland last night gave an admirable reply on the subject, in the debate that we had.