§ Mr. Dewarasked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to announce details of special financial 111W and employment assistance for areas in Scotland hit by the recently announced shipbuilding closures comparable to the measures announced for the north-east of England by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RifkindThe main element of the Government's measures in response to British Shipbuilders' decision to reduce its shipbuilding capacity will be the creation of British Shipbuilders Enterprise Ltd., with support of up to £5 million in the current financial year. BSEL will operate in all the areas affected by job losses in British Shipbuilders, including Scotland, and will provide expert and practical services for former shipyard workers. An appropriate proportion of the additional £1 million for training made available by the Manpower Services Commission will also be deployed in Scotland, according to the needs of the workers to be made redundant, over and above the training and employment services normally made available by the MSC during redundancies.
The other Government assistance announced for the north-east of England by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, notably measures for derelict land reclamation and measures under the urban programme, are matters dealt with in Scotland principally by the Scottish Development Agency, and I am currently considering with the agency what measures might be taken in addition to its present activities in the affected areas. It is important to keep in mind that these areas already benefit from substantial Government assistance towards measures for job creation and physical and economic regeneration, including European regional development fund aid for shipbuilding closure areas.