HC Deb 10 December 1970 vol 808 cc657-60
24. Mr. Eadie

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many construction workers are currently unemployed in Scotland, in total and by the employment exchange areas concerned.

Mr. Dudley Smith

At 9th November, 1970, there were 20,009 persons registered as unemployed in Scotland who last worked in the construction industry.

As the remainder of the reply consists of a table of figures I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Eadie

While I will look for the answer with a great deal of interest, does the hon. Gentleman not agree that it is a very serious comment on all of us that we should have such a high rate of unemployment among construction workers? Is it not a scandal that we should have to announce such a position when there are thousands of homeless in Scotland who want to know what their housing opportunities are to be?

Mr. Dudley Smith

It may be a scandal, but I would remind the hon. Gentleman that this has developed during the time that his Party was in Government. If we look at the arrangements which my right hon. Friend the Chancellor announced on 27th October, we can see that this will be a contribution towards easing the problems of the Scottish construction industry.

Mr. Grimond

Does the hon. Gentleman not agree that it is a disturbing fact that there should be spare resources in Scotland, in view of the state of housing? Do I understand that the Government expect the announcements made in October to increase the demand for building workers and the output of houses? Is not the unemployment in this industry due to the squeeze and should not this be looked at?

Mr. Dudley Smith

Yes, Sir. But some of the fiscal changes which were made will contribute towards solving the problem. Again this is not something which will be easily solved, as there has been a general contraction over the years in the Scottish construction industry. At least we are taking positive steps to do something about it.

Mr. Ross

Is it then the Government's policy to increase the number of houses to be built in Scotland? Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this year, for the third year in succession, there will be a record number of houses built and all indications are that the Government's policy will drive that down?

Mr. Dudley Smith

That is an entirely different question and not one for me. The right hon. Gentleman knows from long experience that when the Conservatives are in power housing figures consistently go up.

Following is the information:

TOTAL NUMBERS OF PERSONS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED IN EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE AREAS IN SCOTLAND AT 9TH NOVEMBER, 1970 WHO LAST WORKED IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

Employment Exchange area Males Females Total
Aberdeen 414 2 416
Airdrie 354 3 357
Alexandria 152 — 152
Alloa 167 — 167
Annan 96 — 96
Anstruther 13 — 13
Arbroath 61 1 62
Ayr 206 1 207
Banchory 7 — 7
Banff 68 — 68
Barrhead 169 — 169
Bathgate 236 — 236
Bellshill 101 1 102
Blairgowrie 36 — 36
Blantyre 92 — 92
Bo'ness 75 — 75
Bridgeton 574 — 574
Bonny bridge 55 — 55
Brechin 18 — 18
Broxburn 64 — 64
Buckie 37 — 37
Burntisland 23 — 23
Cambuslang 44 1 45
Campbeltown 109 1 110
Carluke 21 — 21
Carnoustie 7 1 8
Castle Douglas 26 — 26
Clydebank 458 2 460
Coatbridge 362 9 371
Cowdenbeath 273 1 274
Crieff 30 2 32
Cumbernauld 64 — 64
Cumnock 76 — 76
Cupar 16 — 16
Dalkeith 131 2 133
Dalry 19 — 19
Dingwall 116 1 117
Dumbarton 135 — 135
Dumfries 175 — 175
Dundee 662 4 666
Dunfermline 198 2 200
Dunoon 28 1 29
East Kilbride 93 — 93
Edinburgh 1,278 3 1,281
Elgin 84 2 86
Eyemouth 43 1 44
Falkirk 249 6 255
Forfar 21 — 21
Forres 35 1 36
Fort William 66 — 66
Fraserburgh 37 — 37
Galashiels 49 1 50
Girvan 40 2 42
Glasgow P & C E.O. 30 1 31
Glasgow South Side 973 3 976
Glenrothes 113 1 114
Govan 326 3 329
Grangemouth 57 — 57
Grantown-on-Spey 9 — 9
Greenock 344 9 353
Haddington 59 — 59
Hamilton 298 3 301
Hawick 32 — 32
Employment Exchange area Males Females Total
Helensburgh 65 — 65
Hillington 12 — 12
Huntly 22 — 22
Invergordon 46 2 48
Inverkeithing 36 — 36
Inverness 312 10 322
Inverurie 18 — 18
Irvine 86 — 86
Jedburgh 16 — 16
Johnstone 105 3 108
Keith 26 — 26
Kelso 17 — 17
Kilbirnie 26 1 27
Kilmarnock 214 — 214
Kilsyth 71 — 71
Kilwinning 24 1 25
Kinning Park 161 1 162
Kirkcaldy 200 — 200
Kirkintilloch 97 — 97
Kirkwall 46 — 46
Lanark 53 1 54
Largs 31 — 31
Larkhall 65 — 65
Leith 498 1 499
Lerwick 38 1 39
Lesmahagow 81 — 81
Leven and Methil 164 1 165
Linlithgow 11 — 11
Livingston 76 1 77
Loanhead 101 2 103
Lochgilphead 27 — 27
Lockerbie 13 — 13
Lossiemouth 10 — 10
Maryhill 646 — 646
Montrose 14 — 14
Motherwell 182 1 183
Musselburgh 182 2 184
Nairn 16 — 16
Newmilns 11 — 11
Newton Stewart 32 — 32
Oban 155 1 156
Paisley 359 7 366
Parkhead 1,432 13 1,445
Partick 333 2 335
Peebles 21 — 21
Perth 136 1 137
Peterhead 37 1 38
Pitlochry 17 — 17
Port Glasgow 108 — 108
Portobello 211 — 211
Portree 25 — 25
Renfrew 43 — 43
Rothesay 29 — 29
Rutherglen 208 — 208
St. Andrews 12 — 12
Saltcoats 386 — 386
Sanquhar 23 — 23
Shotts 57 — 57
Springburn 1,211 7 1,218
Stirling 220 1 221
Stonehaven 9 — 9
Stornoway 257 1 258
Stranraer 75 — 75
Thurso 78 3 81
Tranent 71 3 74
Troon 4 — 4
Turriff 12 — 12
Uddingston 84 1 85
West Calder 31 — 31
Wick 167 1 168
Wishaw 185 7 192