§ 131. Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that there are 75,000 unemployed in Scotland, of whom 55,000 are men; if he will give an assurance that no compulsory transference of labour from Scotland to England will take place; and, in view of the disproportionate amount of unemployment in Scotland, what immediate steps he is taking to provide employment for these men and women.
§ Mr. IsaacsYes, Sir. The severe limitations which I have placed on the use of directions make it highly improbable that any person would be compulsorily transferred from Scotland to England. With regard to the last part of the Question, the Government's policy is to ensure the provision of additional opportunities for work and the steps which have been taken to this end are already showing their effect. 388 new factory buildings and extensions in Scotland, of which 312 are 61W located in the Scotland Development Areas, had been approved by the end of September, 1946. These projects when completed are expected to give employment to 69,000 workers.