§ 29. Mr. Rossasked the Minister of Labour if he will make a statement on the expected unemployment trend in Scotland during the next four months.
§ Mr. HeathA seasonal increase in unemployment is to be expected during the winter. I hope that the increase this year will be less than usual.
§ Mr. RossWhy is the Minister so coy? Can he give us a tentative figure? Last winter his predecessor gave a figure for the whole country. Will the Minister be prepared to tell the people of Scotland that he looks forward to having over 100,000 unemployed in Scotland during the coming winter?
§ Mr. HeathI do not accept the hon. Gentleman's figures, and I am not at this stage prepared to make estimates of the particular developments in Scotland during the next four months.