§ 96. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give figures showing the depopulation of Northern Scotland during each of the last 10 years; and what plans he has to reverse this process.
§ Mr. RossThe figures are as shown in the following table. The estimated population in 1968 is almost the same as in 1958. As the House knows, this Government set up the Highlands and Islands Development Board in 1965 to revive the economy in that area.
Estimated population and net increase or decrease of population in the seven crofting counties of Scotland (Argyll, Caithness. Inverness, Orkney, Ross and 395W Cromarty, Sutherland, and Zetland) during the period 1958–68.
At 30th June Estimated population Increase or decrease 1958 275,447 — 1959 275,026 -421 1960 274,747 -279 1961 277,897 +3,150 1962 277,297 -600 1963 277,381 +84 1964 276,328 -1,053 1965 276,043 -285 1966 277,334 +1,291 1967 276,303 -1,031 1968 275,402 -901