§ Mr. Sillarsasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what he estimates to be the prospects of a reduction in unemployment levels over the next 12 months.
§ Mr. Gregor MacKenzieProspects for the next 12 months must depend upon developments in both the world and United Kingdom economies. I believe the policies we are pursuing both nationally and in Scotland afford the best opportunities of securing a lasting reduction in Scottish unemployment. It is a source of some encouragement that there has been an improvement in the underlying situation in Scotland as indicated by an appreciable slowing down in the rate of increase of unemployment in recent months, a fall in the rate of redundancies, and a general upturn in vacancies.