HC Deb 07 May 1980 vol 984 cc260-3
4. Mr. James Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are his plans for creating employment in Scotland.

Mr. Younger

Our policies are aimed at reducing inflation by economic and monetary measures and establishing a soundly based economy in which industry can expand and create secure jobs in Scotland, as elsewhere in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Hamilton

Is the Secretary of State aware that in the Strathclyde region we had 21,148 redundancies last year? It is now a fact that, so far this year, 80 per cent. of redundancies in Scotland are in the Strathclyde region. Will the Secretary of State further tell us—and I have now asked this question three times—about the ill-fated trip to America by his hon. Friend and say how many jobs have been brought to the Strathclyde region, or other regions, to mitigate the disastrous situation there?

Mr. Younger

As a Strathclyde Member of Parliament I share the hon. Gentleman's concern about the position throughout Strathclyde. The hon. Gentleman will be aware that we have recognised this fact in enlarging the SDA in West Central Scotland. We have left the region with the top level of grant and assistance of all kinds, and with a bigger differential over other areas. I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will welcome that fact as much as I do. As the hon. Gentleman knows, the visit of my hon. Friend to America was highly successful, though it is not possible to add up the number of jobs that might have been created in the short period since. The contacts made by my hon. Friend are still being followed up. It was certainly a worthwhile visit.

Mr. Pollock

Does my right hon. Friend agree, apart from the measures announced by the Chancellor in the Budget, that the employment measures will also be of great assistance to those in small businesses who are anxious to expand and thereby improve employment prospects in the rural areas of Scotland?

Mr. Younger

I agree with my hon. Friend. It was widely known everywhere—except in the Labour Party—that the employment legislation of the last Government resulted in many people losing their jobs because small businesses did not dare to take people on. We hope to put that right.

Mr. Robert Hughes

Since the right hon. Gentleman has admitted today that he is considering closing SDA offices abroad and since he has said that the Select Committee is looking at this matter and that no decision will be made until the Select Committee has reported, may I ask him whether he is aware that not a single line of evidence from his Department has even suggested that such a thing was in prospect? Will he now, therefore, submit a paper to the Select Committee summarising his thinking. Will he come to the Select Committee to explain what is happening? If the Select Committee is to do a decent job in relation to inward investment we cannot base our judgment on evidence produced by newspapers.

Mr. Younger

As I never made such an admission it is not surprising that none of the papers provided by my Department made any such admission either. I stated, quite clearly—I do it again to make sure that the hon. Gentleman has not got the wrong end of the stick—that we are looking at ways of improving the overseas promotion effort of Scotland. We are considering this ourselves. The Select Committee is also considering it and we look forward to hearing what the Committee says before taking any decision.

Mr. Myles

Is my right hon. Friend aware that if the agriculture industry were suitably encouraged there would be great employment potential in that industry?

Mr. Younger

I agree with my hon. Friend. As he knows we have, on three occasions during the past year, devalued the green pound to the assistance of the agriculture industry. We have also made the largest ever increase in the hill livestock compensatory amounts. That should help those who work on the hill farms.

Mr. Harry Ewing

Is the Secretary of State aware that the people of Scotland are rapidly becoming tired of his saying that he is worried and concerned about the situation but not doing anything about it? In view of his comments on the Scottish Development Agency will he give a guarantee to the House that the report in The Scotsman today is wrong and that there is no possibility of SDA offices abroad being closed?

Mr. Younger

I think that I have made this clear enough already. The report in The Scotsman was not correct today though the whole question, as a matter of course, is under consideration in order to try to improve the performance of Scotland. We look forward to hearing the views of the Select Committee before making any such decision. That is perfectly clear to me, though it may not be clear to the Opposition.