Employment (Hansard, 6 December 1967)

§ 21. Mr. Bruce-Gardyne
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will instruct the Scottish Economic Planning Council to conduct an investigation into the changes in the number of persons in employment in Scotland since June, 1964.

§ Mr. Ross
No special investigation is necessary. The Scottish Economic Planning Council receives at its meetings reports on changes in employment in Scotland, and comprehensive tables of employment by industries are published twice yearly in the Digest of Scottish Statistics.

§ Mr. Bruce-Gardyne
Is it not the case that the number of persons in employment in Scotland today is substantially lower than it was when the right hon. Gentleman took office? Are we to take this as showing how Scotland goes with Labour or how Labour Government works in Scotland?

§ Mr. Ross
The latest figures given in the digest to which I referred showed, for the period 1964–66, a net change of plus 21,000. Admittedly, it showed a loss in respect of male employment but an increase in respect of female employment.

§ Mr. Lawson
Does not my right hon. Friend agree that the native Scottish business man has some responsibility for the state of affairs in Scotland? Will he do something to stimulate some enterprise among native Scottish business men who have been letting the country down for so long?

§ Mr. Ross
This is one of the things we have been doing, and one of the results of the work of the Economic Planning Council and of the consultative groups is that they are involving people in the localities with the Government's plans, and this is not without success. More and more people are taking an interest in what they can do for themselves with the aid available from the Government in improving the situation of industry in Scotland.

§ Mr. Bruce-Gardyne
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the misleading nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall seek to raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. The hon. Gentleman should give notice of his intention in the conventional way.

Hon. Members
Withdraw.

§ Mr. Speaker
Question No. 23.

§ Mr. Hannan
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I understood you to ask the hon. Member for South Angus (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne) to withdraw his remark.

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. Question Time is getting on. I asked the hon. Member for South Angus to give notice in the conventional way.