§ 22. Mr. Willisasked the Minister of Labour what was the increase or decrease in the numbers of boys of 18 years and under in employment in Scotland and Great Britain, respectively, from 1951 to the latest available date.
§ Mr. HareSeparate figures are only available for boys under 18. Between May, 1951, and May, 1961, inclusive the number of such boys in employment decreased by 6,600 in Scotland and increased by 53,500 in Great Britain.
§ Mr. WillisAs there is a higher birth rate in Scotland than in England—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] Time does not permit me to say why—is it not rather amazing that there should be fewer boys employed now than 11 years ago, and is not this really a terrible indictment of Tory rule over the past 11 years?
§ Mr. HareFrom the evidence that I have, few of the 15 to 17 year old boys leave Scotland on their own to find work. The cause of this decline is that many of these children have left with their parents who have moved elsewhere.
§ Mr. LawsonIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that there has been a steady decline in male labour, men as well as boys? This is perhaps the most disturbing characteristic of the development in Scotland—that we are steadily losing the male part of our population. Will the right hon. Gentleman appreciate the seriousness of this problem and do something very much more than he has tried to do up to the present time?
§ Mr. HareThe hon. Gentleman is right. There has been a decrease in male labour. I was explaining, in answer to his hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Willis), that when families have left the children have gone with them, and that this accounted for the fall in the number of boys there. On the general point, I repeat what I said to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, East, that we all wish to see new and expanding industries going to Scotland, and we will do our best to see that it happens.