HC Deb 23 November 1971 vol 826 cc1118-9
10. Sir G. Nabarro

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take further steps to augment his July measures for reflation of the economy and reduction of unemployment.

23. Mr. Douglas

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is satisfied with the increase in demand following the fiscal measures announced in July; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Barber

I would ask the House to await the debate which is to follow, when I shall be dealing with the general state of the economy, and in particular dealing with the problem of unemployment and the effect on demand of the measures which I announced in July and previously.

Mr. Douglas

Would the right hon. Gentleman accept that the effect of his July measures, added to previous Budgetary statement, has been a massive level of unemployment—141,000 in Scotland—which has resulted today in representatives from local authorities from all over Scotland coming to the House to protest at the dastardly state of the Scottish economy? We shall not be satisfied unless he redresses the balance and in particular restores investment grants and does something about the regional employment premium.

Mr. Barber

I hope that the hon. Gentleman will follow the very sensible example of my hon. Friend the Member for Worcestershire, South (Sir G. Nabarro) and await the debate, when I shall be able to deal with these questions more fully.

Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

While of course we shall await my right hon. Friend's statement with great interest, would he not agree, as a general philosophical proposition, that our experience in recent years has suggested that attempts to fine tune the economy, whether in one direction or the other, have almost invariably been disastrous or at least unfortunate in their medium-term results? Would he therefore resist the blandishments on this subject, whether from my hon. Friend the Member for Worcestershire, South (Sir G. Nabarro) or the other side, from Clackmannan?

Mr. Barber

I note what my hon. Friend said, but my own inclination would be to await the debate.