§ Q6. Mr. W. Hamiltonasked the Prime Minister why he refused an invitation from the Scottish Trades Union Congress to attend a conference on unemployment in Scotland held on Saturday, 7th December.
§ The Prime MinisterI did not receive an invitation to this conference.
§ Mr. HamiltonThat shows the wisdom of the Scottish T.U.C. Does the right hon. Gentleman nevertheless understand that the Scottish T.U.C. wanted all Scottish Members of Parliament there to understand and explain to them the unemployment figures in Scotland? Does he understand that he cannot afford to neglect these educational opportunities?
§ The Prime MinisterI cannot go to a conference when I am not asked to do so.
The Earl of DalkeithDoes not my right hon. Friend agree that deeds are better than words and that while the Opposition frequently engages in vague unconstructive talk about unemployment my hon. and right hon. Friends are getting on with the job?
Mr. H. WilsonIs it a measure of the extent to which the Prime Minister's hon. and right hon. Friends have been getting on with this job that unemployment in Scotland is now so much higher than it was in 1959?
§ The Prime MinisterEveryone has recognised that there have been stubborn pockets of unemployment in Scotland and other areas but that we are taking drastic measures—[Hon. Members: "Where?"]—which we hope will lead to the unemployment being reduced.