§ 26. Mr. Rankinasked the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of the insured population of Scotland is in the development districts.
§ Mr. N. MacphersonOf the estimated number of insured employees in Scotland at the end of May, 1961, 63. 8 per cent. are in the areas now listed as development districts. Excluding districts on the stop list the percentage is 60. 5.
§ Mr. RankinIs not that a very high percentage? Does not it emphasise even to the Minister the very serious nature of Scotland's unemployment situation? Does he not think that he is doing insufficient, even through the Local Employment Act, to deal with this problem? Will he take other initiatives to meet Scotland's demand for jobs?
§ Mr. MacphersonWe are giving the full benefits of the Local Employment Act to all of this 60 per cent. in Scotland. We do not think that it would be right to give the same benefits to the other 40 per cent.
§ 27. Mr. Hoyasked the President of the Board of Trade what has been the nett percentage increase in employment in Scotland arising from the operation of the Local Employment Act.
§ Mr. N. MacphersonThe Local Employment Act is designed to provide additional employment for those living in areas of high unemployment. It is not possible to relate the increase in employment in the areas to changes in total employment in Scotland as a whole. About 29,000 jobs are estimated to have been provided from projects for which assistance has been offered under the Act.
§ Mr. HoyA considerable number of jobs have gone out of existence. In view of the figures which the Minister has just given in answer to the Question of my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Govan (Mr. Rankin), will he have another look at the working of the Local Employment Act to see whether it is doing the job which it should be doing in these areas?
§ Mr. MacphersonWe are looking at and administering this Act from day to day. We believe that, in relation to the amount of industry on the move, Scotland is getting a good share of what is available.