HC Deb 06 July 1994 vol 246 cc305-6
5. Mr. John Marshall

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the change in the numbers unemployed in Scotland since December 1992.

Mr. Stewart

Since December 1992, the number of seasonally adjusted unemployed in Scotland has fallen by 17,100.

Mr. Marshall

As unemployment throughout the European Community has increased by 1.5 million during that time, will my hon. Friend consider holding a seminar at one of Scotland's ancient universities—preferably the university of St. Andrews—at which he could point out that deregulation and modern labour relations create jobs while a minimum wage and the social chapter destroy jobs?

Mr. Stewart

My hon. Friend is absolutely right to point out that the United Kingdom is clearly coming out of the recession ahead of most of the rest of the European Community. As regards seminars, I recently addressed a seminar in Glasgow on the European Community's White Paper, where I made precisely some of the valid points that my hon. Friend has mentioned about Britain's economic success.

Mr. Wray

Does the Minister agree with me that, like the hon. Member for Langbaurgh (Mr. Bates), he is misleading the Scottish people and misleading the House by giving those figures? Does he also agree that the 249,000 figure of December 1992 is the peak figure, although it is 17,100 lower? Why did he not take the August 1990 figure of 197,000, which is the lowest figure? Does he agree that the figure is 34,700 higher than that?

Hon. Members

Now answer that.

Mr. Stewart

The short answer is that the question was: what is the change in the numbers unemployed in Scotland since December 1992", and I gave the figure in answer to that question. I hope that the hon. Gentleman, and all hon. Members, will recognise that unemployment in Scotland is falling, and will continue to fall. [Interruption.] Opposition Members obviously do not like the fact that unemployment is falling. I am disappointed that they take such a completely negative attitude to the evidence of Scotland's economic success.

Mr. Ian Bruce

Will my hon. Friend reflect on the fact that we still have very low strike rates in the United Kingdom? Does he believe that Scottish unemployment is decreasing because the Scottish work force in the main refused to strike? Will he, therefore, make it clear to hon. Members in all parts of the House that the condoning of strike action, from wherever it comes, should be condemned from all parts of the House?

Mr. Stewart

I agree with my hon. Friend. All the evidence from inward investment work clearly shows the importance that firms from north America and the far east attach to Scotland's excellent industrial relations. We have a superb and skilled work force in Scotland, as our inward investment record demonstrates.

Mr. Donohoe

How many changes have there been to the calculations on unemployment figures since the Government came to power in 1979? If the Minister was able to calculate the figures on the basis that he is suggesting from 1992, could he confirm that the total would be about double that which he suggests?

Mr. Stewart

What I do know is that all the Labour Governments in history have ended up with unemployment higher at the end of their period in office than at the beginning. The hon. Gentleman clearly will not face up to the fact that unemployment in Scotland, which of course is high, is below that of the United Kingdom average for the first time since the 1920s. Unemployment there is falling at a time when it is not falling in the rest of the European Community.

Mr. Welsh

Does the Minister agree that adult training is crucial to overcoming unemployment? Why are no adult training places available in Angus and Dundee? Why are existing places under threat? Why is adult training not a priority for the Government?

Mr. Stewart

Of course, places are available. There is a further education college in Dundee. Adult training is a priority of the Government, which is why we are giving £200 million to the Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise network to provide the resources for adult training in Scotland.