asked the President of the Board of Trade how many jobs have been created in the Central West Fife area since the passing of the Local Employment Act; and how many jobs have been lost in the same area in the same period as a result of tile rundown of the mining industry.

About thirty jobs have already accrued in Central West Fife and another 640 are in prospect. About 600 fewer men are employed in the mining industry than a year ago.

Does not the hon. Gentleman recognise that this is a derisory result of the Local Employment Act and that the facts do not reveal the whole picture because many men and youths have left the area to go to the Midlands, South-East England and other parts of the United Kingdom? Can he say whether he regards the position of the youths in the area—the boys and girls who are now leaving school in increasing numbers—as at all satisfactory?

We are very conscious of the need to provide employment for those leaving school at the present time. The fact is that in this area, as elsewhere, unemployment has fallen—in this case from 3·5 per cent, to 2·8 per cent. over the year.