Industrial and Employment Prospects

HC Deb 14 January 1987 vol 108 c237W

28. Mr. Craigen

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on Scotland's industrial and employment prospects for 1987.

Mr. Lang

Scotland is expected to benefit from the relatively favourable prospects for United Kingdom growth in 1987, but continued job losses in the oil-related sector are expected to remain an adverse factor in 1987. Mainly on this account, economic growth in Scotland may be rather slower than in the United Kingdom as a whole. A more detailed review of recent developments and short term prospects for the Scottish economy is provided in Scottish Economic Bulletin No. 34, which was published on 12 January; a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.