§ 3. Mr. G. M. Thomsonasked the Minister of Labour the number of persons in Dundee registered as unemployed in the jute industry and building industry, respectively; and what percentage they form of the insured workers in each category.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour and National Service (Mr. Richard Wood)Before I answer the Question, Mr. Speaker, I wonder whether I might have your permission and that of the House to remain standing. I think that it would probably save time.
§ Mr. SpeakerI am sure that the House w ill be very glad to give that consideration to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. WoodThank you, Sir.
The Answer is that at 17th November, 1958, 741 workers in the jute industry and 299 in the building industry were registered as unemployed at the Dundee and Broughty Ferry Employment Exchanges. The respective percentages were 4.7 and 6.1.
§ Mr. ThomsonIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware that, while things are a bit better in the jute industry at the moment, the rise in unemployment in the building trade continues to be rather alarming? What steps are being taken to deal with it?
§ Mr. WoodI hope very much that the building workers who are at present unemployed may benefit not only from the recent measures the Government have taken but also from the new factory building projects which have been already announced for the hon. Gentleman's area.
§ 4. Mr. G. M. Thomsonasked the Minister of Labour the percentage rates of unemployment at the Dundee and Broughty Ferry Employment Exchanges, combined, at the most convenient date in November.
§ Mr. ThomsonIs the hon. Gentleman aware that, owing to a dispute in the shipbuilding industry in Dundee, the shipbuilding yard will be closed down completely on Monday night unless there is a resumption of work? Can he say what effect this will have on the unemployment figures in Dundee?
§ Mr. WoodI am afraid that I cannot say with any accuracy what effect that will have, but, as the hon. Gentleman knows, during the past year eight projects for new factories or extensions, six of them with Government assistance, have been announced. As the hon. Member knows, my right hon. Friends are urgently trying to persuade further industry to go to his constituency.
§ Mr. ThomsonIn view of the very serious unemployment situation in the city, may I draw the Parliamentary Secretary's attention to the shipbuilding situation, which is of the utmost gravity, and seek his mediation to prevent further unemployment there?
§ Mr. NabarroIn view of the high level of unemployment in the building trade in Dundee, will my hon. Friend make representations to the Secretary of State for Scotland to the effect that he should reverse his earlier decision to proceed with a hydro-electric scheme in the far North and should instead substitute an atomic power station on the Firth of Tay, where conditions are ideal and where building workers could be gainfully employed?