§ 35. Mr. Patrick Maitlandasked the Minister of Labour how many persons are now unemployed at Douglas and Douglas, West, in the county of Lanark.
§ The Minister of Labour and National Service (Mr. lain Macleod)On 13th April, there were 19 men and two women unemployed at Douglas, and five men and one woman at Douglas West. In addition, two girls are registered as unemployed with the Youth Employment Service.
§ Mr. MaitlandCould my right hon. Friend say what is the proportion of unemployment in this area and whether the Government would consider the village for D. A. T. A. C. help?
§ Mr. MacleodOn the first point, I cannot calculate separately a percentage for Douglas as it is part of a large travel-to-work area. I have had the unemployment figures especially extracted for my hon. Friend. On the question of D.A.T.A.C., although it is not a D.A.T.A.C. area, if it would help to relieve unemployment in the locality, it is possible that a specific proposition might qualify.
§ 42. Mr. Patrick Maitlandasked the Minister of Labour how many miners 856 have left Douglas and Douglas, West, in the county of Lanark since December, 1958.
§ Mr. lain MacleodI regret that records in this form are not kept but I am writing to my hon. Friend giving him such information as is available.
§ Mr. MaitlandIs my right hon. Friend aware that something like 70 families have already left the village since the turn of the year? Would he not agree that the departure of the population on this scale in a small area of employment creates subsidiary unemployment in other branches of commerce and activity and therefore requires the attention of the Government?
§ Mr. MacleodDouglas is a difficult problem. It has arisen in part because of the closing of this colliery. If my hon. Friend studies what information I have been able to collect on this subject, he might perhaps like to discuss it with me again.