HC Deb 23 February 1972 vol 831 cc1257-61
3. Mr. William Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what new proposals he has received from outside organisations on ways of reducing unemployment, in particular following the Scottish Trades Union Congress-sponsored Assembly in Edinburgh on 14th February.

7. Mr. Eadie

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement arising out of the conclusions conveyed to him by the Scottish Assembly organised by the Scottish Trade Union Congress on 14th February.

8. Mr. Ewing

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received on matters for which he is responsible arising from the Scottish Assembly held in Edinburgh on 14th February.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

I have as yet received no communication arising from the deliberations of the Scottish Trades Union Congress's Assembly on Unemployment, but an observer attended on behalf of the Department of Employment, and of the Scottish Office.

Mr. Hamilton

Meanwhile, what have been the representations which the right hon. Gentleman just said he had made to the British Steel Corporation, particularly only in view of the estimate in this morning's papers that 18,000 jobs are to be lost in the Scottish steel industry between now and 1975? What representations did he make to the British Steel Corporation before that leak was allowed to get into the Press? What progress has been made in the devolution of Government offices to Scotland and other development areas?

Mr. Campbell

The hon. Member refers to a report—I have seen several reports—in the Press today, concerning some document, apparently an internal document of the British Steel Corporation, which, according to the reports, was written in 1968. I know nothing of that document and cannot comment upon it. The question of the best Government machinery for regional development measures is continually under review, and changes will be made if they are thought to be more effective than the present.

Mr. Ewing

Would the right hon. Gentleman accept that the fact that he has had no representations from the S.T.U.C. in relation to what happened on 14th February in Edinburgh reflects the feeling in Scotland that it is no good appealing to this Government because they are insensitive to the economic and employment needs of Scotland? Will he not realise that this reflects a very serious situation indeed and that, instead of standing back and talking about internal documents, he should get involved in the situation and try to do something for a change to solve the unemployment problem in Scotland?

Mr. Campbell

I fear that the hon. Member is entirely wrong. It was arranged before the conference that a Government observer should be there and I informed the Secretary-General that I was exceedingly interested in what happened at the conference. He knew that I was getting a report and I understand that he has made an approach to the Prime Minister as the head of the whole Government.

Mr. Brewis

Is it not the case that the document mentioned is a confidential document of the previous Government and that any questions about it should be referred to hon. and right hon. Gentlemen opposite?

Mr. Campbell

My hon. Friend must be referring to this document of the B.S.C. which is reported in the Press. As it is apparently dated 1968, the last Government should know more about it than we do.

Mr. David Steel

Presumably the Secretary of State is aware that the S.T.U.C. Assembly was a remarkably successful occasion in the views put forward. Would he say something about the statements which have been appearing in the Press over the last few days about the forthcoming creation of Government office jobs in Scotland and their dispersal in different parts of Scotland?

Mr. Campbell

On the last point, the hon. Member knows, I think, that a study is being made of the whole question of dispersal of offices on a major scale. He also knows that the Forestry Commission is coming to Edinburgh and that I was a member of the Government concerned with the successful move of the Post Office Savings Bank to Glasgow. This is something about which I am very much concerned. I agree that the reports that I have received show that the S.T.U.C. Assembly was successful—particularly because of the contributions made by some of my hon. Friends.

34. Mr. James Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many organisations he has met in the last six months concerning unemployment.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

I have met nine organisations and my hon. Friend has had eight similar meetings in the last six months.

Mr. Hamilton

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that after the figures are produced tomorrow other representations will be made to him? Is he aware, for instance, that the construction industry is working at only two-thirds capacity? Does not he consider that trying to meet our need for houses and hospitals could become a valuable source of employment? Some Lanarkshire hon. Members have received representations about rumours of proposed steel industry closures. Will the right hon. Gentleman give us an assurance that he will try to find out from the British Steel Corporation whether those rumours are true? The matter is causing a great deal of consternation not only in Lanarkshire but throughout Scotland.

Mr. Campbell

I am always ready to see deputations and delegations whenever I can about unemployment, which is of great concern to me and many others. Things are looking better in the construction industry in Scotland, particularly because of the large increase in housing approvals and starts in the public sector and increased activity in the private sector, which have already been mentioned by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary. I have already dealt with the British Steel Corporation in answer to previous Questions.

Mr. Ross

Will the right hon. Gentle man tell us the organisations he has refused to see, apart from Kilmarnock Town Council? Does his last statement mean that we shall see a drop in the unemployment figures for Scotland tomorrow?

Mr. Campbell

Tomorrow's figures will come out tomorrow. The answer to the first part of the right hon. Gentleman's question is, "Very few".

41. Mr. Sillars

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many letters he has received in the past month on Scottish unemployment; and what replies he has sent.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

In the past month I have received two letters solely concerned with unemployment in Scotland, while several other letters have referred to it. Where appropriate my replies have referred to the major measures being taken, including the special public works programmes, a summary of which I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Sillars

In answer to an earlier Question on Scottish unemployment, the Secretary of State for Scotland said that tomorrow's unemployment figures will come out tomorrow. Will it be a better tomorrow?

Mr. Campbell

The hon. Gentleman knows that he must wait for those figures.

Following is the information:

Recent Special Measures

Other Measures Taken

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