HC Deb 21 December 1966 vol 738 cc1389-90
4. Mr. Hamling

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he is taking to prevent unemployment exceeding 100,000.

64. Mr. Rankin

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is now taking to bring unemployment in Scotland within the confines of the national average.

Mr. Ross

I would refer hon. Members to my reply to the hon. Member for Louth (Sir C. Osborne) on 9th November [Vol. 735, c. 1281]. Since then substantial increases in retraining facilities and temporary increases in investment grants have been announced.

Mr. Hamling

Can my right hon. Friend tell the House when unemployment in Scotland last reached the figure of 100,000 in the month of December?

Mr. Ross

It was in 1962, but my hon. Friend will be aware that that was only the start of a six-month period when in no month did it go below 100,000.

Mr. Rankin

Is my right hon. Friend confident that these measures will bring unemployment in Scotland into line with his statement in July of this year?

Mr. Ross

I am confident that, as a result of what we are doing in respect of the long-term economic situation in Scotland, in time we shall be able to improve the position considerably. The indications that we have of the incidence of unemployment throughout the country, bearing in mind its relationship with Scotland, gives us some reason to think that already a certain amount of the balance has been redressed as a result of the work of the past two or three years—not just by this party, but by the others as well—in the diversification and modernisation of Scottish industry.

Mr. Noble

Will the right hon. Gentleman take it from me that everyone on both sides of the House is most anxious to see this position improved, and does not he agree that what he has told us today—and I am sure that there are other things that he is doing—is a very disappointing Answer to the Question in view of the great anxiety all over Scotland?

Mr. Ross

I think that the problems in relation to the present situation are related to the weakness of the country, and I think also that the right hon. Gentleman should be the last one to get up and talk about this, bearing in mind for how long, and for what continuous period, his party had control of the whole situation.