§ 10. Sir W. Anstruther-Grayasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has replied to the letter sent to him on 28th October by East Lothian County Council representing that the western part of the county should be designated a development district; and in what sense.
§ Mr. DarlingThe Board of Trade Controller in Scotland has replied to the Clerk to the County Council's letter to him of 28th October. He has explained that we were unable to list the area as a development district under the Local Employment Acts, but that we will keep its situation under close review.
§ Sir W. Anstruther-GrayWhile thanking the hon. Gentleman for that reply, and the reply which he sent to me, may I ask if he is aware that it was a most unsatisfactory reply? Does he offer the county any hope whatever of attracting new industries to the area? I hope that he will give us the general assurance that he will look into this matter again. Will he please do so urgently?
§ Mr. DarlingI think that it must be borne in mind, and I am sure that the right hon. Gentleman would agree, that this part of Scotland is very fortunate in having such a relatively low rate of unemployment. It is interesting to note that the unemployment rate in the Mussel-burgh and Tranent area, which was over 3 per cent. a year ago, is now down to 2.5 per cent. I can assure the right hon. Gentleman that we will do all that we possibly can to keep the trend in a downward direction.