§ 10. Mr. Gregor MacKenzieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the latest figures of unemployed people in Scotland.
§ Mr. YoungerOn 9 April seasonally adjusted unemployment in Scotland stood at 270,800–12 per cent. While I share the right hon. Gentleman's concern about the continuing high level of unemployment, I am encouraged by the fact that the rate of increase in seasonally adjusted unemployment in Scotland has slowed down somewhat during the past three months and has been relatively less severe than in other parts of the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. MacKenzieIs the Secretary of State aware that in my constituency alone during the past two years an additional 3,571 people—about 89.25 per cent.—have been added to the unemployment register? Is that not all too sadly typical of what is happening in the rest of Scotland? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a large proportion of those people are more than 45 years of age, and that they fear that unless something drastic is done they will never work again? Without eroding any of the other programmes, can the right hon. Gentleman do something to help that group who are thoroughly demoralised?
§ Mr. YoungerI appreciate the right hon. Gentleman's concern, both on the general point and for his constituency. The new scheme announced recently as a supplement to the youth opportunities programme, for the older unemployed, should help the group that he mentioned who are the longer-term unemployed. I know that he will be the first to agree that, having seen the position develop in his part of Scotland, the Government have given that area the highest priority in assistance for regional development. Many hundreds of millions of pounds have been pumped into the steel industry, in which many of his constituents work.
§ Mr. MaclennanDoes the Secretary of State accept that the attempt to reduce the public sector borrowing requirement at a time of world recession—as the Government are doing, and to which policy he is apparently committed because of his ministerial responsibilities—is having a deeply devastating effect on Scottish employment? Will he abandon that course? When he announces the number of new jobs created in Scotland, as he did last week—he said that 43,000 new jobs had been created since the Government took office—will he also tell us of the number of jobs lost?
§ Mr. YoungerI am interested to hear a piece of policy from the Social Democratic Party. That is extremely helpful. The hon. Gentleman may wish to contemplate what the opposite effect would be if we were to increase the public sector borrowing requirement at a time of 759 recession. How much would it add to the interest rates about which his constituents are complaining, with the backing of the Social Democratic Party?
§ Mr. Peter FraserIn view of the attention that my right hon. Friend has paid to the problem of unemployment in Scotland, may I ask whether he has found evidence to suggest that we can afford the stunning complacency about the level of rates in Scotland and its effect on unemployment? Can he recollect one cheep from his opposite number on the Labour Benches when rates were increased, especially following the 150 per cent. increase that Dundee district council imposed on industry in parts of my constituency?
§ Mr. YoungerI am grateful to my hon. Friend. There is overwhelming evidence that the excessively high levels of rates being imposed by irresponsible overspending authorities is threatening many thousands of jobs in small firms in those areas. I have not noticed the right hon. Member for Glasgow, Craigton (Mr. Milian) making any strong appeals to local authorities not to overspend. Perhaps I simply failed to notice.
§ Mr. MillanIs the Secretary of State aware that school leavers this year will face the worst employment prospects since the 1930s? Does he realise that there is complete demoralisation among large sections of youngsters? We are told that things will get better. When will they do so, and when will he hold out even a little hope to this year's school leavers?
§ Mr. YoungerI share the right hon. Gentleman's concern about school leavers. I am sure that he will acknowledge that we have increased the youth opportunities programme for that precise reason by no less than 80 per cent. Even if he wishes, as I do, that we could do more, at least he might acknowledge that we have made a fine contribution.
§ Mr. SproatDoes my right hon. Friend agree that it would be far better for Scotland if Opposition Members occasionally stopped moaning and started pointing to the many job opportunities coming to Scotland, especially in the oil industry? Does my right hon. Friend recall that only last year Shell UK predicted that during the next 15 years a further £60 billion would be spent developing North Sea oil? That is more than five times what has already been spent. Does not that mean massive new domestic market opportunities for Scottish jobs and products?
§ Mr. YoungerI share my hon. Friend's puzzlement at the attitude of the Opposition Party on this issue. Their contribution to a difficult position appears to be that we should withdraw from the European Community, thus threatening about one-third of the jobs in Scotland, abandon the defence commitment, which would instantly threaten about 30,000 Scottish jobs and, as if that were not enough, institute huge public spending programmes that would threaten the remaining jobs.
§ Mr. George RobertsonHas the Secretary of State read reports in today's press about the attack on his Government by the president and chairman of the North Lanarkshire Conservative and Unionist Association, both of whom have declined reselection as Conservative councillors as a five-point protest against Government policies? In the light of that and in the light of the Government's pathetic 15 per cent. support in the latest opinion poll, will even this stubborn Government 760 recognise that they are being condemned on all fronts and change their policies before they cause any more damage to Scotland?
§ Mr. YoungerI have not seen the report that the hon. Gentleman mentioned. However, I understand that the president and chairman reaffirmed their remaining loyalty to the Conservative Party. If I wish for any advice on how to deal with dissension within the party, I shall turn to the Labour Party, which is expert on such matters.
§ Mr. Gordon WilsonIf the right hon. Gentleman is genuinely sympathetic and concerned about the problems of growing unemployment, will he consider the Robb Caledon yard in Dundee, which no longer has any orders in hand and where 400 jobs are in danger? British Shipbuilders is apparently determined to close the yard. Will he intervene with Department of Industry Ministers and British Shipbuilders to bring new work to the yard?
§ Mr. YoungerI note the hon. Gentleman's remarks. I, too, have been greatly concerned about the Robb Caledon yard. I do not think that the hon. Gentleman will deny that the Government have been extremely generous to the shipbuilding industry. It is for British Shipbuilders to decide which yards can continue and which cannot.