§ 48. Mrs. Bainasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the present state of the Scottish economy.
§ Mr. William RossLike many other countries, the United Kingdom is currently experiencing a serious fall in the level722W of economic activity and this is reflected in high unemployment. The Scottish economy cannot be wholly insulated from this. Nevertheless, over the past year unemployment in Scotland has risen proportionately less than in the United Kingdom as a whole, due inter alia to the Government's regional development policies and to the new jobs created as a result of North Sea oil. The Government believe that such measures as the setting up of the Scottish Development Agency, the dispersal of Civil Service posts, and the new initiatives announced on 24th September will further strengthen investment and employment in Scotland.