§ Q2. Mr. W. Hamiltonasked the Prime Minister what was the nature of his recent written reply to the Scottish Trades Union Congress on measures to deal with the unemployment situation; and to what extent the measures outlined in the reply differ from those recently publicly announced.
§ The Prime MinisterMy recent letter to the Scottish Trades Union Congress took the discussions which we had earlier this year a stage further.
There is nothing in my letter which is at variance with Government announcements.
§ Mr. HamiltonCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether or not he agrees with the continued practice of making these announcements outside the House, where they cannot be questioned? This practice has repeatedly occurred in the last two or three months. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that so far the actions of the Government have done nothing to alleviate the unemployment situation in Scotland? After Questions, will he take the opportunity to go upstairs in order to meet some of these people and to discuss the problem with them?
§ The Prime MinisterWith regard to the Question on the Order Paper, I would have no objection if the letter were published, but it would be a matter for the Scottish Trades Union Congress. I should not think it courteous to permit such publication without that Congress's permission.
§ Mr. ShinwellAs this matter raises the subject of unemployment, does not the Prime Minister think that it might be a very wise procedure on his part if he met some of the thousands of people 1119 who have come here from various parts of the country which are troubled about this problem? Would not he like to see them, even if their language is a little crude?
§ The Prime MinisterI meet a great number of people, and I have never been afraid in my life to meet anybody who wishes to see me. But this is a matter for the Scottish Trades Union Congress, which asked to see me on two occasions. I have seen it on several occasions. In this case I wrote the Congress a letter summarising some of the decisions of the Government dealing with certain matters that the Congress had raised with me. That seemed to be a matter of ordinary courtesy.
§ Mr. HamiltonWill the Prime Minister contact the Scottish T.U.C. in order to see whether he can obtain its permission to publish the letter, in order that Members may have the benefit of knowing exactly what the Government are doing or not doing?
§ The Prime MinisterYes. I under stand that the Congress is meeting. If there is a general wish, I certainly have no objection. I will see that that view is conveyed to the Congress.