Economic Prospects

HC Deb 13 December 1972 vol 848 cc137-8W

35. Mr. Sillars

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about economic prospects in Scotland in the coming 12 months.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

In recent months there has been a marked improvement in the economic outlook for Scotland, underlined by a heartening reduction in the unemployment figures and by an increase in notified vacancies, and this should continue in 1973. The pace of development in the North Sea oilfields is also very encouraging. But in the longer term the health of the Scottish economy will depend on the success of the Government's counter-inflation measures and on the maintenance of a high rate of growth.