§ Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that there is in Scotland at present increasing unemployment and under-employment in skilled trades, including draughtsmen, planners, aerodynamicists and technicians related to shipbuilding and ship-repairing; if he will specify the respective figures and percentages in each section, with separate reference to Aberdeen; and what steps he is taking to eliminate this.
§ Mr. HeathI regret that it is not possible to correlate the occupational analyses of the unemployment statistics with industrial analyses, and that no percentage rates of unemployment can be calculated on an occupational basis. A comparison of the occupational analyses for December, 1958, and December, 1959, shows that unemployment has increased slightly in some skilled occupations which are common both to shipbuilding and other industries, and has decreased in others. My officers are, of course, doing all they can to place such skilled workers in suitable employment.