§ 3. Dr. Dickson Mabonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the unemployment in the civil engineering contracting industry in Scotland amounting to nearly one-sixth of the labour force ; and if he will take steps now to authorise road, water, sewerage and other public works contracts scheduled for 1972–73 in this current financial year.
§ 15. Mr. Dempseyasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total amount of winter work programme for 1971–72 he has approved ; and if he will raise the ceiling of individual projects.
§ 29. Mr. Gregor Mackenzieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he now has for a public works programme this coming winter ; what is the estimated cost of such a programme ; and what proportion this figure represents of the United Kingdom total.
§ The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Gordon Campbell)I refer to the new public works programme announced in my statement yesterday during the debate on the economic situation in Scotland.
§ Dr. MabonWe are disappointed that it has taken the Secretary of State two weeks after we put down these Questions to make his statement. Seriously, in view of the need to make the fullest use of this programme, will the right hon. Gentleman be willing to make a statement to the House in October about progress in the take-up of the moneys available under the various schemes? What must not happen is that the money is not spent.
§ Mr. CampbellI shall certainly seek to keep the House informed of progress with this programme. As I said in my statement yesterday, we hope that some of it can be started very soon.