HC Deb 28 May 1963 vol 678 cc1121-2
Q8. Mr. W. Hamilton

asked the Prime Minister what was the nature of his reply to the letter sent to him last week by the Scottish Trades Union Congress concerning the employment situation in Scotland.

Q9. Mr. Ross

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the representations made to him last week by the Scottish Trades Union Congress concerning the serious economic situation in Scotland.

The Prime Minister

In its letter the Scottish Trades Union Congress referred principally to the importance to the Scottish economy of stimulating activity in shipbuilding. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport is making a statement on this subject tomorrow, and I shall be replying to the Scottish Trades Union Congress letter shortly thereafter.

Mr. Hamilton

Was not the letter more generalised than that? Did it not refer to the fact that jobs were not being created sufficiently quickly enough to take up the slack in the Scottish economy? Does not the Prime Minister know that, even after the winter is over, there are more than 100,000 still unemployed in Scotland and only 11,000 vacancies? Is it not this which concerned the Scottish T.U.C.? Cannot the Prime Minister match with deeds the fine words he has given to the Scottish T.U.C. in recent months?

The Prime Minister

As everyone knows, the very large series of measures which we have instituted—I shall not trouble the House by reviewing them again—has made a very great contribution, which, as the months go by, will, I believe, help to solve the short-term problem. This is dealing rather with the longer-term problem.

Mr. Ross

Is the Prime Minister aware that what he calls the large series of measures was described very temperately by the Scottish Trades Union Congress as a modicum of minor measures? Is he aware, also, that the day following that letter, the position was absolutely clarified by the publication of the unemployment figures showing that in mid-May there were over 103,000 unemployed in Scotland? Does the right hon. Gentleman recall that, just last week, he announced that the areas which pioneered the first Industrial Revolution would participate fully in the next industrial revolution? When does he propose to make a start in Scotland?

The Prime Minister

Very large measures have been started, and, as everyone knows, the prospects are good.