§ 61. Sir C. Osborneasked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what is the average rate of unemployment in Scotland to the latest convenient date; how this compares with the rate in England; which are the three worst areas in Scotland; what are their rates, respectively; and how soon she expects to eliminate all unemployment in Scotland.
§ Mr. HattersleyAt 9th September the percentage rates of unemployment for Scotland and England were 3.6 and 2.1, respectively. Employment Exchange areas in Scotland with the highest percentage rates of unemployment at that date were Sanquhar (22), Stornoway (16.2) and Lesmahagow (15.5).
We do not expect to be able to eliminate all unemployment in Scotland 131W but Government assistance to the development areas is expected to produce a marked reduction in the disparity between the level of unemployment in Scotland and the national level over the next three years.