HC Deb 27 April 1976 vol 910 cc186-8
Q1. Mr. Canavan

asked the Prime Minister whether he is satisfied with the progress being made in implementing the proposals in the Queen's Speech.

The Prime Minister (Mr. James Callaghan)

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Reigate (Mr. Gardiner) on 8th April.

Mr. Canavan

Will my right hon. Friend reconfirm the commitment in the Queen's Speech to attack unemployment? Does he not agree that an alternative Socialist solution to the nation's unemployment problem might be forthcoming if he did not restrict his Westminster job creation scheme by bestowing most of his privileges and patronage on those who supported him in the recent leadership election?

The Prime Minister

I assure my hon. Friend that that is not the way to get a job.

Mr. Canavan

I am not asking for one.

An Hon. Member

Tell him how.

The Prime Minister

I will give my hon. Friend a little private advice about that. The trouble with my party is that there is so much ability and so much talent that it is impossible to meet all the requirements that should be met.

Concerning the serious part of the question, I agree that unemployment is too high in Scotland. There is no doubt that the first task is to overcome the problem of inflation. When we can do that, I believe that we shall see moving ahead in Scotland the investment that is required to produce productive jobs. Meantime, as my hon. Friend knows, the Government have taken a number of steps concerning the dispersal of jobs in the Ministry of Defence and elsewhere which will have a long-term effect on improving the position.

Mr. Gordon Wilson

In view of the Budget's relaxation of the industrial development certificate policy and the growing unemployment in Scotland, will not the Prime Minister realise that the pledges given in the Queen's Speech have not been fulfilled and that the time has now come for a deployment of the Scottish oil revenues towards solving this very serious problem in our country?

The Prime Minister

I am glad to say that, although serious in Scotland, unemployment has increased less than in any other region in the United Kingdom except for the North of England and, I think, Northern Ireland. As the hon. Gentleman indicates, that is partly due to the oil development, which has had the effect of providing some 50,000 to 60,000 jobs in Scotland. I am sure that Scotland appreciates this. I also believe that Scotland will want to share its good fortune—I have never detected any selfishness in anybody in Scotland—with the whole of the United Kingdom, because the United Kingdom as a whole is stronger than Scotland would be individually.

Mr. Kilroy-Silk

While we are talking about jobs, is my right hon. Friend aware that unemployment on Merseyside is higher than anywhere else in the United Kingdom? Can he tell us when the people on Merseyside, especially the 3,000 school leavers unemployed there, will get a job?

The Prime Minister

I think that the answer is the same. The Government must concentrate on reducing the level of inflation. When the level of inflation is reduced to a point where productive investment will take place, we shall see the growth of jobs. This is the first and overriding task of the Government. As I am asked what progress has been made concerning the Queen's Speech, I refreshed my mind on it at lunch time, and my hon. Friend will be glad to know that this was the first and highest priority to attack. Therefore, we are doing what we said we would do.

Mr. David Steel

Since the Queen's Speech also referred to the efforts to bring about a just and peaceful settlement in Rhodesia, will the Prime Minister take this opportunity of commending the blunt and constructive approach to this matter of Dr. Kissinger?

The Prime Minister

Yes, Sir. I think that the speech made by Dr. Kissinger, of which I have read only Press reports, should commend itself to the Europeans in Rhodesia. I say that not because we wish in regard to the future of the Europeans there to be vindictive, but because we believe that this is the best way in which they can hope to have a long-term future in that country. This fact is recognised perhaps more by the Africans in Rhodesia than by Europeans there. I hope that the weight of Dr. Kissinger's words will now get through to the Europeans.

Mr. Adley

Now that Mr. Jack Jones has joined the Prime Minister in his eulogies about the incomes policy, will not the Prime Minister complete this king-size, hypocritical somersault by recommending to Mr. Jones and his colleagues at the next stage that the incomes policy should be £1 plus 4 per cent.?

The Prime Minister

I thought that the hon. Gentleman used the word "hypocritical".

Mr. Adley

In terms of policy.

The Prime Minister

Trade union leaders deserve encouragement rather than the sneers and jeers of Conservative Members.

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