Employment Patterns (Hansard, 2 August 1972)

§ 15. Mr. John Smith
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will cause the Scottish Development Department to make a study of the future employment patterns in Central and West Scotland and their impact on the Scottish economy.

§ Mr. Gordon Campbell
This is already an integral part of the studies being carried out by the West Central Scotland Plan Steering Committee.

§ Mr. Smith
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, although at the last election his party promised to reduce unemployment in Scotland, in June, 1970, unemployment in my area was 4.7 per cent. but is now 9 per cent., almost double the figure of two years ago? Can he tell my constituents when it is likely that unemployment will fall to the level at 549 which it was when the present disastrous Government took office?

§ Mr. Campbell
Although the hon. Gentleman has not been a Member of the House very long he should know by now that no Government or Minister makes forecasts about unemployment. When we came into office we drew attention to the fact that unemployment was rising and that we intended to tackle it as one of our major purposes. We have been doing so.

§ Mr. Smith
It has nearly doubled.

Mr. Edward Taylor
Does my right hon. Friend agree that the present Government have done more than any previous Government to try to steer industry to the West of Scotland, and to aid it there, but that we have a serious problem with administrative offices in that the nationalised industries tend to close down their offices in the West of Scotland, or to reduce their status, and to centralise activities down South? Will he take up the matter with the boards of the nationalised industries?

§ Mr. Campbell
The answer to the first part of my hon. Friend's question is "Yes". As regards offices, I know of my hon. Friend's concern about the nationalised industries. I am also concerned about the matter and am taking appropriate action. As regards offices in general, my hon. Friend will welcome the fact that offices are being moved to Scotland. Not only the Forestry Commission but the White Fish Authority are going to Scotland, and only recently the proposal for a Government office employing about 1,000 people was announced for Cumbernauld.

§ Mr. Ross
Has the right hon. Gentleman noticed or heard about the position in Glasgow, where about half the office development is still unoccupied? Is not this an indication of the Government's failure to achieve the expansion in Scotland that we expected? The right hon. Gentleman says that the Government have made the problem of unemployment one of their first tasks, but it has risen to 138,000, an unheard of figure during summer. When shall we see some results from the Government's so-called action?

§ Mr. Campbell
The right hon. Gentleman knows that the Industry Bill, which 550 has just passed through this House, is specially designed to help—

§ Mr. Ross
The Government have had two years.

§ Mr. Campbell
The Bill is to meet the present situation. We are introducing measures to meet the situation as it exists. It changes from year to year. The right hon. Gentleman should know that Glasgow is a special problem. It is affected by the high rates which commerce bears in Glasgow. That is something we are trying to do something about.