§ 12. Mr. Adam Hunterasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the number of new factories he has been invited to open in Scotland in 1971.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellI have so far received four invitations to ceremonies concerned with the opening of new factories in 1971, three of which I have been able to accept.
§ Mr. HunterWould the right hon. Gentleman not agree that had it not been for the effective regional policies of the last Administration he would not be performing at those functions? Would he, in addition, while looking forward to carrying out those pleasant duties, not give more attention to the present series of closures and partial closures of factories in Scotland and try to reverse this trend?
§ Mr. CampbellI would not necessarily accept the first point which the hon. Gentleman made—
§ Mr. Campbell—because the policies of the last four years have led to extremely high unemployment in Scotland this winter, starting with a figure of 93,000 a few days after we took office—in July, in midsummer. It is for this reason that we are changing the policies in order to get the longer-term prospects better.
§ Mr. John SmithIs the Secretary of State aware that in my constituency there is an advance factory which was completed by the last Government and which was ready for occupation in July, although there are very few signs that there will be any incoming tenant for it? Will he give me some assurance that it will not remain a mock of the good endeavours of the last Government, or an indication of the failure of this Government to attract industry to Scotland?
§ Mr. CampbellIs the hon. Member aware of another factory sitting idle in my constituency—and sitting idle for three years—and that I was busy trying to get the last Government to do something about it? Already, in the last six months, we have announced new policies which we are bringing into effect as soon as we can, with the assistance of this House where legislation is required, in order to get the growth and improvement which, I hope, both sides of the House wish to see.
§ Mr. RossIs the Secretary of State aware that we gave him a legacy of about 55,000 new jobs through I.D.C.s which had been approved, and which it is too late for him now to refuse, when unemployment is rising, and rising seriously, in Scotland, and that none of those 42 policies he has announced is doing anything but worsen the situation?
§ Mr. CampbellThe right hon. Gentleman gave us a legacy of 93,000 unemployed in Scotland in midsummer. As regards I.D.C.s, the I.D.C.s in Scotland within 12 months from June, 1969, to June, 1970, before we came into office, reflected a reduction of 34 per cent. in jobs against the previous 12 months.