HC Deb 26 October 1977 vol 936 cc1423-4
7. Mr. Teddy Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now publish a White Paper on the Scottish economy.

Mr. Millan

I have no plans to do so.

Mr. Taylor

Does not the Secretary of State feel that such a paper is required, since Scotland's unemployment position in the United Kingdom has been getting worse whereas up to the end of 1975 it was improving? Is he not concerned that in spite of what he said about unemployment figures, the figure for Scotland, seasonally adjusted, has shown an increase, against the national trend? Is he aware of the publication today by the Fraser of Allender Institute indicating that unemployment in Scotland will rise to over 200,000 in the new year? Is he not greatly concerned about Scotland's worsening relative position?

Mr. Millan

I do not accept that there is a worsening of the relative position. The position on relative unemployment has been fairly constant in the current year and is immeasurably better than it was when we took over in February 1974. If we were showing the kind of figures that the hon. Gentleman's Government showed, we would certainly have well passed the 200,000 figure that he mentioned in his question.

Mr. Donald Stewart

Does the Secretary of State accept that an effective and quick way of assisting the Scottish economy would be to abolish the levy on the self-employed imposed by the Tory Government in 1973? Does he have any plans to do so?

Mr. Millan

I do not think I can comment on that.

Mr. Russell Johnston

Remembering the famous National Plan for Scotland, may I ask whether the Secretary of State is saying that we will never see its like again?

Mr. Millan

No, I would not necessarily say that. Who can tell?

Mr. Taylor

Does not the Secretary of State accept that Scotland's relative position has in fact worsened in comparison with the position under the last Government? Will he remind the House of what unemployment was when he took over as Secretary of State?

Mr. Millan

The unemployment relative is 132 now. In the fourth quarter of 1973, when the hon. Gentleman's Government were in power, it was 166.