§ 8. Mr. Dempseyasked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he proposes to take to fulfil his promise to provide 25,000 extra jobs in Scotland during the lifetime of this Parliament; and what proposals he has to provide employment for the remaining 67,000 unemployed.
§ Mr. J. RodgersIt is now estimated that from factory buildings or extensions recently completed, under construction, and approved but not yet started, over 25,000 new jobs will be provided. I appreciate there is still a long way to go, but this is I think a satisfactory start.
§ Mr. DempseyIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware that to tell us that there are 25,000 employment opportunities with 90,000 unemployed is most unsatisfactory? Will he take the necessary steps 178 to stimulate the drive in order to end Scotland's unemployment problems?
§ Mr. RodgersWe will do our best to stimulate expansion in Scotland. I point out that unemployment in Scotland has gone down from 91,000—the figure the hon. Gentleman has in mind—to 85,000 last month.
§ Mr. T. FraserIs the hon. Gentleman saying that those jobs which he hopes will be provided through industrial buildings which are to be completed in the next few years are extra jobs? Will not many thousands, if not all of them, be in the room of jobs which will disappear in the same period?
§ Mr. RodgersSome will be replacements in the sense of new creations, but the question is misleading in implying that all these jobs will come through the application of the I.D.C. policy, leaving out of account any improvements which there might be in the tourist industry, for instance, in certain service industries, in offices and so on.