§ 34. Mr. Monroasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if the Scottish Economic Planning Council has reported to him on the unemployment problems of south-west Scotland.
§ Mr. RossYes, Sir. The Council keeps me very fully informed about the special problems of all the regions of Scotland.
§ Mr. MonroDoes the Secretary of State realise that unemployment in my constituency has risen by almost 40 per cent. in 12 months? When will the Government stop their foolish economic policies?
§ Mr. RossThe hon. Gentleman will appreciate, and those concerned in his constituency, will appreciate, that this problem is long-standing. His constituents are terrified in case the same thing happens as happened there in the past, under a Conservative Government.
§ Mr. SteeleWould my hon. and right hon. Friend inform the House what is his relationship with the Chairman of the Scottish Economic Planning Council?
§ 45. Mr. Bruce-Gardyneasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will instruct the Scottish Development Department to undertake, as a matter of urgency, a study of the levels of unemployment to be expected in Scotland in the first quarter of 1968, and of the extent of the fall in manufacturing investment in Scotland, in 1967 and 1968.
§ Mr. RossMy Department, in consultation with the Ministry of Labour and other Government Departments concerned, already gives consideration to current and prospective levels of unemployment in Scotland.
Similarly the investment intentions of manufacturing firms, in so far as they are reflected in issues of industrial development certificates, are also kept under regular review.
§ Mr. Bruce-GardyneCan the right hon. Gentleman tell us his forecast of the peak level of unemployment in Scotland next spring and what he would regard as a tolerable ceiling?
§ Mr. RossI have to resist the blandishments of the hon. Gentleman. It has never been the practice to disclose forecasts, either by this Administration or previous ones. I have no intention of departing from that wise precedent.
§ Mr. YoungerHas the Secretary of State observed that the current trends in unemployment seem to indicate a fall of only half of what was expected between last winter and this summer? Does not this give him cause for concern?
§ Mr. RossAny increase in the trend should cause us all concern, but there are encouraging indications. For instance, the latest C.B.I. survey of industrial trends in Scotland indicates that investment has risen since January and that firms are taking a more confident view of the future. This is how we should talk in Scotland.