HC Deb 23 May 1979 vol 967 cc1038-40
13. Mr. Ewing

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on employment prospects in Scotland.

24. Mr. Eadie

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures he intends to take to deal with unemployment in Scotland.

Mr. Younger

When I arrived in the Scottish Office I found unemployent levels which were almost exactly double what they were when I left the office in 1973. It is my prime task to try to recreate confidence within Scottish industry so that it can once more start to expand and create more employment.

Mr. Ewing

Will the Secretary of State publish in the Official Report his precise estimate of the number of jobs that will be lost in the Civil Service in Scotland through the 3 per cent. reduction that has been imposed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer? Will he publish in the Official Report the number of jobs that will be lost in local authorities in Scotland through the reduction in the rate support grant, also bearing in mind the indication earlier that the Government would expect jobs to go, as a result of the sale of council houses, in the housing departments?

Finally, will the Secretary of State comment on the remarks of Mr. Alan Devereaux, chairman of the Confederation of British Industry in Scotland, yesterday, that during the coming winter Scotland will be in for a blizzard? Will he bear in mind that that comment was made against the background of Mr. Devereaux being in favour of the election of a Tory Government?

Mr. Younger

I am amazed that the hon. Gentleman seems to have no sense of shame for the inheritance he handed over to this Government. I can assure him that all the policies we pursue are designed to encourage Scottish industry once more to expand, and not to have the disastrous loss of jobs which has occurred over the last five years.

Mr. Eadie

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the decision by the Government not to intervene to save the jobs of Pye/TMC in Livingston new town is a deplorable decision, bearing in mind the concern that he has synthetically expressed to the House in his previous answer? Is he further aware that the Government have at this early stage already given the impression that skill and diligence by a work force will get no response from them? What does he intend to do about unemployment?

Mr. Younger

One would not have thought that the hon. Gentleman had been a distinguished member of a Government who left office only 18 days ago. If his criticism of me is that I have not solved all these problems in 18 days, I accept it. My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State saw those concerned with the first matter mentioned by the hon. Gentleman, and they went very carefully into the background to this very unfortunate position. The sad fact is that there did not appear to be a viable or profitable future for that part of the business, but we would have been very glad to help if any way could have been found of doing so.

Mr. Sproat

Will my right hon. Friend accept that there is very deep concern in the North-East of Scotland about the 600 jobs being made redundant at Lawson's of Dyce, with the loss of the pig-slaughtering facilities there? Will he say what discussions his Department has already had, and what he is proposing to do to try to alleviate this disastrous situation?

Mr. Younger

I share absolutely my hon. Friend's concern. My noble Friend the Minister of State will be meeting those concerned tomorrow to see whether there is any way in which he can help.

Mr. Gordon Wilson

Is the Secretary of State aware that the Republic of Ireland seems to be taking up the lion's share of the mobile manufacturing jobs available at the present time, including the recent Mostek development, which went to Dublin? Has he any plans to alter the guidelines of the Scottish Development Agency to allow it to attract some of these jobs to Scotland?

Mr. Younger

The hon. Gentleman will have to ask my predecessors to explain the full details of what occurred in the Mostek case. I am sure that they could explain. We shall be looking at the guidelines of the Scottish Development Agency to see whether there is any way in which its performance can be improved. It will have every support from us in carrying on its work under the statutes.