§ 19. Mr. G. Campbellasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will now revise the target for new jobs of 134,000 in six years proposed in the White Paper on the Scottish Economy.
§ Dr. Dickson MabonNo, Sir.
§ Mr. CampbellIs it not clear that many more than this number of jobs will be needed? As the White Paper records, on the same page 9, that a large number of new jobs—157,000—were created in the previous four years of Conservative Government, will the Secretary of State not now raise his sights?
§ Dr. MabonProgress so far is that we have increased employment by 21,000, taking mid-1964 with mid-1966, against an actual fall in employment in the two years prior to mid-1964. In terms of industrial development, the Government have done quite remarkably in the years 1965 and 1966. We have given approval of an area of 19.2 million sq. ft., with potential employment for over 43,000 people. That represents an increase over 1963 of 75 per cent. and, over 1964, of 45 per cent.—really quite a good record.