HC Deb 25 February 1959 vol 600 cc1118-20
56. Mr. Bence

asked the Minister of Labour how many men and women were unemployed at the latest convenient date, in the Burgh of Clydebank; and what steps he is taking to place them insuitable employment.

Mr. Iain Macleod

On 9th February, 1959, 1,674 men and women were registered as unemployed at the Clydebank Employment Exchange. My local officers are doing what they can to submit them to the vacancies which are notified to my Department.

Mr. Bence

Is the Minister aware that this is a very serious position for Clydebank, because of the dangerous situation in the shipbuilding industry? There has been considerable disappointment over the fact that the old Royal Ordnance Factory, now taken over by Babcock and Wilcox, has not developed as expected, and because there has been a further closure of a factory on the boundary of Clydebank. Will the Minister consult his right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade and do something to attract new industry to this area?

Mr. Macleod

Yes. This is an area in respect of which there are close consultations between the Board of Trade and my Department. I will take action with my right hon. Friend in the light of that supplementary question.

Mr. Jay

In view of all these Questions, does not the Minister show himself to be exceedingly complacent about the whole situation? Although he may be very good at predicting increases in unemployment, can he take some action to stop them?

Mr. Macleod

I do not believe that a single one of the Answers given in the last hour by my Parliamentary Secretary or myself could be called complacent. I have been greatly concerned all the time at the levels of unemployment in many areas, and my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade and I have taken a whole series of measures to try to put these matters right.

Mr. Robens

In view of the fact that in December the right hon. Gentleman was good enough to hazard a guess that the peak of unemployment might be 2.8 per cent., has he in mind any rearrangement or reassessment of that figure? Does he believe that 2.8 per cent. will still be the peak, and that we shall see a diminution of unemployment?

Mr. Speaker

Order. We are a long way from Clydebank now.

57. Mr. Bence

asked the Minister of Labour how many youths under 21 years of age were unemployed, at the latest convenient date, in the burghs of Clydebank and Kirkintilloch; and what steps he is taking to place them in suitable employment.

Mr. Wood

On 9th February, 63 boys under 18 were registered as unemployed in the burghs of Clydebank and Kirkintilloch. One hundred and sixteen young men aged 18 and 19 were unemployed on 8th December, which is the latest date for which such figures are available. The local officers of my Department and of the Youth Employment Service are doing all they can to find suitable employment for those who are at present unemployed.

Mr. Bence

Does not the hon. Member agree that it is a most serious phenomenon in a modern society when young people who leave school at the age of 15 years are in some cases unemployed for over 12 months, with just nothing to do, and are not wanted by society? Will the Minister do something to see that young people leaving school are placed in suitable employment?

Mr. Wood

This matter was raised by one of the hon. Member's hon. Friends last night on the Adjournment. I gave my views then, and expressed concern, and said that I hoped that we should shortly be able to improve the position of young people in Scotland.