HC Deb 21 February 1973 vol 851 cc443-4
1. Mr. James Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will next meet the Scottish Trades Union Congress and the Scottish Council (Development and Industry).

The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Gordon Campbell)

I met representatives of the Scottish Trades Union Congress and of the Scottish Council on 8th December and I will be ready for a further meeting when this would be helpful.

Mr. Hamilton

Is the Secretary of State aware that some of us on the Opposition side attended a youth conference convened by the STUC and that at that conference, which was well attended, we were told that in London and the South East there are 210 jobs for every 100 youths wanting jobs, whereas in Scotland there are 100 youths to every 10 jobs? Is he aware that the situation is serious, and that unless there is an upsurge of jobs for the male population in Scotland the youth of our country will be lost for ever?

Mr. Campbell

This has been an extremely serious situation, to which I have referred in the House on many occasions. I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will welcome, with me, the improving trend since last March in the unemployment figures.

Mr. Baxter

Hon. Members welcome any discussions with the Scottish trade union movement and the Scottish Council, but does the right hon. Gentleman realise that leadership comes from the top and not from the rank and file and that in Scotland we very much require leadership from the top, from the Secretary of State? That is absolutely imperative.

Mr. Campbell

I agree. I thought at first that the hon. Gentleman was referring to the STUC and the Scottish Council. I am sure that the importance of leadership applies to all bodies.

Mr. Ross

I hope that the right hon. Gentleman was not referring to the leader in today's Glasgow Herald. Was the meeting to which my hon. Friend the Member for Bothwell (Mr. James Hamilton) referred the one at which the Secretary of State was unable to give satisfaction to the STUC about the £400 million investment programme for steel in Scotland, in respect of which we are still awaiting an answer, not having been able to obtain satisfaction from the right hon. Gentleman or from the Department of Trade and Industry yesterday?

Mr. Campbell

The meeting I had with the STUC on the day in question discussed steel and the 10-year investment programme. I was not able then to give complete details of every minor investment that the British Steel Corporation proposed over the next 10 years, and I could not do so today. But I was able later to announce that the BSC plan includes a 25 per cent. increase in steel-making capacity in Scotland——

Mr. John Smith

Over the 10 years?

Mr. Campbell

Yes—whereas during the five and a half years the previous Government were in office the increase was only 0.2 per cent.

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