§ Q3. Mr. W. Hamiltonasked the Prime Minister if he will now make a statement on his recent meeting with representatives of the Scottish Council; and what immediate plans he has for implementing their proposals.
§ Q8. Mr. Rossasked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his meeting with the Scottish Council for Development and Industry.
§ The Prime MinisterThe Scottish Council's representatives placed before me their analysis of Scotland's economic problems and we discussed how the Government could most effectively contribute to the promotion of economic growth in Scotland.
§ Mr. HamiltonIs not the right bon. Gentleman finally convinced that the Local Employment Act, on which he and the Government lean so heavily, is totally inadequate for solving this problem? In the words of Lord Polwarth, has it really 234 sunk in on this occasion? If it has, can the right hon. Gentleman say when he proposes to bring forward amendments to that legislation and additional incentives to industrialists to go to Scotland and get the 150,000 people off the dole who have been on it far too long?
§ The Prime MinisterI could not accept that the Local Employment Act has failed. It has been very successful. Additional measures will be announced in due course.
§ Mr. RossIs the Prime Minister aware that the measure of his success can be judged by the fact that unemployment in Scotland is now rising towards 140,000 to 150,000? Is he aware that the people of Scotland expect a little more than the vague optimism with which he soothes delegations? When will we get a statement of positive policy designed to meet the special circumstances of Scotland, the North-East and Wales and so on, in addition to the general policies already announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer and which are quite inadequate for these areas? Can he tell me specifically what part the Scottish mining industry is to play in the new power programme which has just been announced?
§ The Prime MinisterCertain steps have been taken and announced, and others will be taken and announced in due course. On the more general question, there is, as the hon. Gentleman says, the broad question of the economy as a whole, of expansion as a whole, and the separate question as to how those benefits can best be extended to Scotland.
§ Mr. John MacLeodWill the Prime Minister bear in mind that it is felt that there should be a greater distribution of industry in Scotland? There is still too much depopulation from the north to the south, aggravating the position. Was this matter taken into account during these meetings?
§ The Prime MinisterThese meetings were private, but I think they covered a very wide range. They lasted for several hours, and I think that both this one and the one with the trade unions were of great value to me and my colleagues, and I think they were regarded as of some value by the members of the deputation.
§ Mr. GrimondIs the Prime Minister aware that many specific proposals have been put to him—for instance, the Highland Development Board, new generating plant, and improvements in Scottish ports and roads—and he consistently says that he is considering them? Can he tell the House when he will come to a decision on whether he will accept or reject them?
§ The Prime MinisterSome have already been dealt with and announced, and others will be announced as decisions are reached.