§ 44. Mr. Benceasked the Minister of Labour what action he proposes to take to find jobs for unemployed miners in the villages of Twechar and Croy in the County of Dunbartonshire.
§ Mr. WhitelawOur local officers will continue to do everything possible to find work for those registered with them.
§ Mr. BenceWe have heard that answer so often before. Will the Parliamentary Secretary please keep in mind not only that the mines are closing down in this area but the railway stations also, which means that, with very few new industries coming to the area, he must do something 30 drastic, and quickly, if there is not to be very heavy unemployment in the County of Dunbartonshire?
§ Mr. WhitelawAs the hon. Member knows, I take a very close personal interest in these matters in the particular area he has described—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh!"]—so I can assure him that it will remain very much in my mind.
Mr. BaxterWill the hon. Gentleman state what has been done in the past to relieve unemployment in this area, and what plans he, the Secretary of State for Scotland and the President of the Board of Trade intend to put into operation to help these people, many of whom were recently unemployed because of the closing of the mines in the whole area, including Kilsyth?
§ Mr. WhitelawI note what the hon. Gentleman says. Needless to say, in my last supplementary answer I did not imply any idea of favouritism. I should also make it clear that my personal interest is purely one of a considerable interest in the people concerned and does not go further than that.