§ 3. Mr. Canavanasked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he has now reached any conclusions as a result of the meeting held in May between the Under-Secretary of State and representatives from local authorities in the Central region of Scotland about industrial development.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Industry (Mr. David Mitchell)I am giving careful consideration to the arguments raised by the deputation about the changes in regional aids in the Central region.
§ Mr. CanavanIn view of the fact that, since that meeting, the unemployment position in the Central region has got even worse, with thousands more young school leavers looking for work and about a thousand more notified redundancies in the past few weeks alone, why are the Government so hell-bent on going ahead with downgrading development area status in some parts of the region? Instead of simply blaming unemployment on the unemployed, is it not time that the Secretary of State realised that he is the biggest single cause of unemployment in this country, because his mad policies are causing the high rate of inflation, the high interest rates and the cuts in public investment which are crippling industry in this country?
§ Mr. MitchellWe shall take into account in our review all the matters that the hon. Gentleman has raised. He may wish to take some satisfaction from the fact that unemployment has risen by a smaller percentage in Scotland than in Great Britain as a whole.
§ Mr. SpriggsIs the hon. Gentleman aware that his right hon. Friend told the Members of Parliament from the North-West group that downgrading of areas represented success? If success means higher unemployment figures in each of the towns concerned in the North-West, how does he—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The hon. Gentleman may ask about the Central region of Scotland but if he wishes to ask about the North-West he may have an opportunity later.
§ Mr. SpriggsI accept your ruling. Mr. Speaker.