§ Q8. Mr. James Hamiltonasked the Prime Minister when he next intends to visit Lanarkshire.
§ The Prime MinisterI have at present no plans to do so, Sir.
§ Mr. HamiltonSince the right hon. Gentleman does not intend to visit Lanarkshire, may I remind him that, although the unemployment figures there have decreased, 4.7 per cent. of the insured population are still unemployed? Is he aware that in my constituency there are seven empty factories, two of which have recently been vacated by industrialists who came there, received all the grants and, after six years—in the last instance—packed up and left? Will he give his attention to this, with the Ministers at the Department of Trade and Industry, because it requires further investigation?
§ The Prime MinisterI am prepared to ask my right hon. and hon. Friends at the DTI to look into the particular case of Lanarkshire, which I know well. The hon. Gentleman referred to the fall in unemployment. He will welcome the fact that it is down by more than 600. The 1552 rate now is down to 4.6 per cent. However, the last thing that one wants is that firms should leave factories, particularly Government factories, which they are at present occupying. But one can ensure the prosperity of a place like Lanarkshire only with an expanding economy.