§ 38. Mr. T. Fraserasked the Secretary of State for Scotland is he is satisfied that the existing official agencies at his disposal to give effect to the policies of Her Majesty's Government for the economic well-being of Scotland are adequate for the purpose; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MaclayI am generally satisfied with the existing structure, but I am always willing to consider suggestions for possible improvements.
§ Mr. FraserIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Minister of Labour told me last Wednesday, in a Written Answer, that Scotland had fallen short, by about 90,000 jobs, of its share of the new employment that has been made available in the last eight years? In view of that, if the existing structure and agencies are all right, does not the right hon. Gentleman think that there is something very far wrong with his policy?
§ Mr. MaclayThe hon. Gentleman will know that I am very much aware of the problems we have in Scotland, because we have had recent debates on the subject. I am not satisfied that we should get greater progress by producing new agencies or organisations unless we knew precisely what they were going to do, but we are pressing on very hard with the measures which have already had some success.
§ Mr. FraserI am not asking for a new organisation. Will not the right hon. Gentleman think of giving us a new policy?