HC Deb 18 January 1978 vol 942 cc431-3
6. Mr. Henderson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the increase in the work force in Scotland that is anticipated in the next 15 years.

Mr. Gregor MacKenzie

Labour force projections for Scotland up to 1991 are at present being calculated and will be published as soon as they are available.

Mr. Henderson

Does the Minister of State realise that that is a most extraordinary reply in view of the reply given by the Secretary of State for Employment in c. 256 of Hansard on 13th December 1977, in which he was apparently able to calculate the United Kingdom figure? Does this mean that the Government's projections are to be on a United Kingdom basis and that they have no idea what the position is in Scotland?

Mr. MacKenzie

We have made projections on a United Kingdom basis until the 1981 period, but we do not have figures for 1991 in Scotland. We are preparing them, and they will be published as soon as possible.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

Is the Minister aware that at Portlethen, near Aberdeen, and at Montrose in my constituency there have been losses of jobs in recent weeks of over 60 in each case, directly as a result of agriculture policies followed by the present Government? Is he aware that these policies are now having an effect on employment in processing industries for agriculture? If the Government get these policies right, particularly the devaluation of the green pound, that will help future employment in Scotland.

Mr. MacKenzie

I am conscious of the difficulties which the hon. Gentleman has, particularly in industry. However, I am bound to say that I am not quite so conscious of the problems that he has mentioned in agriculture. We shall do what we can to help on the industry side.

Mr. Robert Hughes

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the most recent projection for the rise in the work force in Scotland up to 1986 is about 150,000? Does he not, therefore, take the point that there is a great deal to be done to stimulate investment in manufacturing industry and other jobs in Scotland? Does he further accept that the solution to the unemployment problem in Scotland is a Socialist one, and that if we leave it to the capitalist economy we shall be in greater danger?

Mr. MacKenzie

I think that it has to be borne in mind that because of the rise in the birth rate in 1960 many more people have come on to the labour market than there have been for some years, plus the fact that there are a number of women now coming on to the labour market. The measures which the Government have taken, particularly in the setting up of the Scottish Development Agency, the National Enterprise Board, and the Industry Act 1975, are the sort of measures likely to create jobs in the United Kingdom and particularly in Scotland.

Mr. Teddy Taylor

When will the Secretary of State and the Minister be able to give us some indication of the Government's plans for steel, an industry in which Scotland is facing the greatest crisis in years? This is in an industry in which we have tried the Socialist policy of nationalisation for some time. What is the outlook for steel? Will the Minister look at the October 1974 election manifesto on which the Labour Party was returned to power? Will he indicate whether the temporary employment subsidy is seriously under threat because of the recent discussions with the EEC?

Mr. MacKenzie

We will make our findings known as soon as possible on the question of steel.

On the second point raised by the hon. Member, I am taken aback by what he said. When the Conservative Party was in power it was very anxious to close a great number of steelworks, and it was left to the Labour Party in 1974 to ask my colleague, Lord Beswick, to go through all the proposals and ensure that we did not have the dreadful closures that the Conservative Opposition envisaged at that time. The protection of those jobs has been of great value to the people whom I represent.