HC Deb 20 January 1972 vol 829 cc673-4
Mr. John Smith

I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter which should have urgent consideration, namely, the announcement today of the record level of 154,356 unemployed in Scotland. I argue that this is an urgent matter of public importance, not only because these figures reveal the depth of the crisis and the extent of the misery which now afflicts so many of my constituents and so many of the constituents of my hon. Friends, but because examination of the statistics shows how the situation has deteriorated.

Since the last statistics were announced one month ago, an extra 13,215 people have become unemployed in Scotland. This is the largest increase by total number and by percentage, of any region in the United Kingdom—including Northern Ireland. It disturbs us deeply in Scotland that a situation in which civil order has broken down can provide better employment figures than an area like Scotland. Scottish unemployment has risen by 0.6 per cent. and Northern Ireland's by only 0.4 per cent.

This is a matter of public importance and of urgency, because not since March, 1940, have there been unemployment figures like this in Scotland—

Mr. Speaker

Order. I must try to control applications under Standing Order No. 9. The only point which the hon. Member can make is why a debate should take place today—or with precedence over the debate which is to take place on Monday.

Mr. Smith

I argue that we require a debate today because the debate on Monday will be a one-day debate and will relate to the problems of the whole of the United Kingdom. As my right hon. Friend the Member for Kilmarnock (Mr. Ross) said, the people who sent us to Parliament expect Scottish M.P.s to ask for a debate about these, the worst figures for Scotland, because, although they are contained in the figures for the United Kingdom, there is a special and acute crisis in Scotland.

It is for these reasons that I urge you, Mr. Speaker, to allow us a debate today in which we can draw attention to the problem and may get some evidence that the Government accept responsibility for this state of affairs.

Mr. Speaker

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for having given me as long notice as he could of his intention to make this application now. I have carefully considered what he has said, and I also had regard to the exchanges at business question time and otherwise. I am afraid that I cannot accede to his request.