§ 16. Mr. McKelveyasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to alleviate the level of unemployment in Ayrshire.
1051W
§ Mr. YoungerThe Government attach great importance to improving the prospects for employment in Ayrshire. Since 1979 we have provided regional selective assistance for projects in the area to secure investment of £387 million and 11,378 jobs including 2,413 safeguarded.
We are supporting a number of enterprise trusts and similar initiatives including the Kilmarnock venture through the Scottish Development Agency and have designated an area around Prestwick airport as Scotland's first freeport.