§ Mr. Ernie Rossasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps are being taken to increase employment opportunities in the engineering industry in Dundee.
§ Mr. Alexander FletcherThe Government are continuing their efforts to attract new investment and encourage existing manufacturers in Dundee and make available for this purpose assistance at the highest levels for investment projects designed to create new jobs or safeguard existing ones. The success of our policies can be illustrated by reference to the announcements, within the last 12 months, of major investments in camera and TV-set production by Nimslo and Sinclair Research Limited, respectively, involving nearly 2,000 jobs.
§ Mr. Ernie Rossasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the companies and the amount of money awarded under section 7 of the Industry Act 1972 in the latest available year in Dundee.
§ Mr. Alexander FletcherIn 1980, 14 offers of grant totalling £4.1 million were made to companies in Dundee under section 7 of the Industry Act. Information about individual offers is held in confidence, but the details of offers of £5,000 or more are published inBritish Business after the first payment has been made to the company.
§ Mr. Ernie Rossasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many companies and other organisations in Dundee are required to comply with the legislation dealing with employing registered disabled people; how many are not fulfilling these requirements; and what steps are being taken in the International Year of Disabled People to improve the situation.
§ Mr. Alexander FletcherIn May 1980, the latest date for which information is available, 159 employers in Dundee were liable to comply with the Disabled Persons38W (Employment) Act 1944. Of these, 95 were not fulfilling their quota obligations. The number of disabled people choosing to register under the Act has fallen to such an extent that it is no longer possible for all employers to satisfy the quota. The quota scheme is at present under revew by the Manpower Services Commission, and the commission's recommendations will be given careful consideration before any decision is made on its future.
The Government are seeking, by a process of education and publicity, to promote the full integration of the disabled into the work force, which is the employment objective of the International Year of Disabled People.
§ Mr. Ernie Rossasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in view of the latest unemployment figures showing that there are over 14,000 people out of work in Dundee, he will introduce a package of measures to create jobs to reflate the local economy.
§ Mr. Alexander FletcherI refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Dundee, East (Mr. Wilson) on 11 February.—[Vol. 998, c857.]