§ 39. Mr. Rossasked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he has taken in the past three months to bring new industry to Ayrshire.
§ Mr. J. RodgersNorth-West Ayrshire was added in January last to the list of places to benefit from the Distribution of Industry (Industrial Finance) Act, 1958. Since the 1st December last three industrial projects in Ayrshire have been approved, two of which should in due course employ 215 workers.
§ Mr. RossDoes the Minister realise that so far the steps that have been taken have been quite ineffective and that the position is very serious indeed? Is he aware that in one part we have got nearly 16 per cent. of the insured population unemployed?
§ Mr. RodgersI realise the gravity of the situation, but I would point out that in Kilmarnock itself the figure is 2.6.