§ 14. Mr. G. M. Thomsonasked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to speed up the diversification of industry in the Dundee area in the light of his decision to reduce the mark-up on imported jute goods.
§ Mr. J. RodgersThe Board of Trade has factories now under construction in Dundee which are expected to provide Over 1,000 jobs. In addition, financial assistance is available for suitable projects. We will continue in our efforts to encourage new industrial development in the area.
§ Mr. ThomsonIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware that that Answer is not in the least satisfactory in relation to the problem? Is he aware, further, that the Government's efforts since the original reduction in the mark-up of jute have not matched the number of jobs lost then and that this latest mark-up is likely to reduce the number of jobs in Dundee in the coming year by a further 1,000? What specific efforts does the Parliamentary Secretary intend to make to give Dundee a share, for instance, in any expansion in the motor industry north of the Border?
§ Mr. RodgersWe draw the attention of industries to the great need of Dundee for diversification.
§ Mr. StracheyWill the Parliamentary Secretary give us some assurance that he will not push the reduction of the jute industry in Dundee further and further? On his own admission, he has exactly undone now all the work on creating new jobs in Dundee which he has done over the past year.
§ Mr. RodgersThe jute industry is a slightly different question, but the trade has estimated that the reduction in the mark-up to which reference was made may effect 800 to 1,000 people. Projects under construction are expected to provide 1,000 jobs in 1960 and 700 there-after, and projects approved but not yet started in the district are estimated to provide a further 1,344 jobs.