§ 49. Mr. MacArthurasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to revise his estimate of the numbers of new jobs to be provided by 1970 in the manufacturing, construction, and service industries, respectively, following the increase in the rates of selective employment tax.
§ Mr. MacArthurIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the promised increase has not taken place, and that instead there has been a sharp fall in employment in Scotland in every one of these sectors? Will the right hon. 1459 Gentleman stop pretending that S.E.T. is good for Scotland and use his influence at last and belatedly to get rid of this wretched and damaging tax?
§ Mr. RossI think we have heard all that before, and no doubt the hon. Gentleman will say that he has heard my reply before. The facts in broad terms are that the total number of new jobs created in Scotland since 1964 is in line with the forecast in the White Paper, and we are providing jobs at almost twice the rate of the previous four years by our action.