§ 32. Sir Russell Fairgrieveasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a broad estimate of the number of jobs in Scotland that are dependent upon the United Kingdom's membership of the European Community.
§ Mr. YoungerThe number of other factors influencing employment in Scotland is so great that any estimate which attempts to isolate the effect of the European Community is subject to such uncertainty that I do not consider it would serve a useful purpose. But in view of the increasing importance of trade links with Europe, and the advantages which membership of the European Community brings for the attraction of inward investment to Scotland, withdrawal from the Community would have serious adverse consequences for economic activity in Scotland.