§ Q3. Mr. Rossasked the Prime Minister if he will instruct the responsible Ministers to initiate as a matter of 656 urgency an accelerated programme of public works in Scotland.
§ The Prime MinisterThe relatively high level of unemployment in Scotland is a matter of serious concern to the Government and public sector investment in Scotland in the current year has already been increased by £22 million from the level planned a year ago.
§ Mr. RossIs the Prime Minister aware that the anxiety evinced in my Question is shared by all sections of the community in Scotland, of every shade of political opinion? Is he further aware that the presently published plan in relation to investment shows a reduction next year in respect of classified roads and schools, that house building by local authorities continues to decline and that there is ample scope and very much need for a sense of emergency and an imaginative drive on public works to fill the gap between the present and the achievement of the Government's long-term plan? Will he institute more or less a council of war of all Ministers and declare war on Scottish unemployment?
§ The Prime MinisterI am deeply in sympathy with the hon. Member's motives and I will certainly consider, not necessarily the method, but the purposes which he has in mind. We have already added this sum of £22 million, and the Chancellor has shown that matters are not absolutely inflexible from one year to another. I will consider what the hon. Member said.
§ Mr. GaitskellWhile welcoming the Prime Minister's statement that the Government are gravely concerned about the unemployment in Scotland, may I ask what he is proposing to do about it? Is he aware that the Chancellor's measures, which were announced some little time ago, were shown in the recent debate to be quite inadequate to deal with the situation? When may we expect a further statement from the Government on this matter?
§ The Prime MinisterThe right hon. Gentleman has enlarged the question. I was asked about the programme of public works, not about the programme of private development and of movement by industry. The hon. Member for Kilmarnock (Mr. Ross) was very fair and kept strictly to his own Question. 657 As he said, the other questions concern either the short-term or long-term measures for industrial movement and development. The Question on the Order Paper concerns public works. I pointed out that the figure in this respect was £22 million higher, and I said that I will certainly bear in mind what he said and discuss with the Chancellor whether some further improvement may be made. I dealt with it on that issue and not on the wider issue of industrial development.
The Earl of DalkeithWould the Prime Minister consider taking special action under the Local Employment Act to induce the Ford Motor Company to close down its factory at Dagenham and transfer the whole issue to Scotland before the various disputes give the whole of British industry a bad name in the eyes of foreign industrialists?
§ The Prime MinisterI think that the general hope of everybody in the House would be that progress could be made in resolving what could be quite a serious problem—the amount of time lost, whatever may be the cause and whoever may be at fault. I believe that we all feel that it is a terrible thing, when so much is needed to be done, that it cannot be done more quickly.
§ Mr. GrimondWill the Prime Minister give us the comparable figure for the increase in public investment in England to that which he has quoted for Scotland? Will he bear in mind that the special situation in Scotland will not be cured unless he is prepared to take some special measures and discriminate to some extent in favour of employment in Scotland? Thirdly, what steps are being taken to get Government offices to go to Scotland?
§ The Prime MinisterI have not the precise figure here and I do not want to be held to it, because it is out of my memory, but I think that the additional grant was about £70 million.
§ Mr. GaitskellIs the Prime Minister aware that while there is a strong case for more expansionist measures generally in respect of Scotland an accelerated programme of public works would do a great deal to alleviate the situation? Would he answer the question whether the Government are contemplating such 658 a programme and when we may expect an announcement about it?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. I think that I prefer to rest on the reply which I gave to the Question and which I think the hon. Member for Kilmarnock accepted as very fair in the circumstances. I will stick to what I have promised.