the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to meet the leaders of the Scottish Trades Union Congress.

the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to meet the General Council of the Scottish Trades Union Congress.

My right hon. Friend and I have met representatives of the STUC several times since taking office and have made it clear that we are prepared to meet them at any time they wish.

Is the Minister aware that the Government's policies are creating havoc in Scotland, hitting jobs and living standards in particular? Does not he appreciate that the STUC has no alternative but to step up the fight against him in order to defend standards in Scotland?

I refute entirely the accusation of havoc in Scotland. The Scottish people, like those in the rest of the United Kingdom, are determined to support the Government in seeing their policies through. It would be helpful to employment and economic prospects in Scotland generally if the hon. Gentleman and his colleagues, and STUC leaders in Scotland, would urge Scottish workers not to take part in the so-called day of action next week. That must be exceedingly damaging to the Scottish economy.

When will the Minister accept that the Government's policies in Scotland have failed and that they do not command the respect or support of the Scottish electorate, as was proved last Thursday? When will he stand up and fight against monetarism that is doing so much damage to Scotland?

It is a great pity that the hon. Gentleman is so impatient. The Government's policies will work through in Scotland as in the rest of the United Kingdom. It will take until some time next year before the benefits of these policies can be seen.

Will my hon. Friend point out to the STUC and to opposition Members who have asked questions the vast and damaging discrepancy between their claims, on the one hand, that they want a sound and prosperous economy, and their advocacy, or the other, of a day of inaction that can only lead to loss of production, loss of wages and massive inconvenience to the public?

My hon. Friend is right. It is a pity that the STUC will not listen to its own members in Scotland, most of whom have no desire to take part in this day of action.

Is not the hon. Gentleman aware that the Government's policy is, unfortunately, working through in Scotland, to the tune of 200,000 unemployed? Is not any small amount of production lost on the day of action a fleabite compared with the enormous loss of production caused by that number of unemployed?

The hon. Gentleman knows that the previous Labour Government doubled unemployment in Scotland during their term of office. He will also know—I am thinking of incidents reported in the press concerning his constituency—that further damage may be inflicted on the car factory at Linwood if, because of a dispute over manning involving four men, there is a closure. I hope that the hon. Gentleman will help the responsible people to make sure that a closure is averted.

In addition to the problem at Linwood, which is most unfortunate given the progress that the factory has made, is it not sad to reflect that the STUC did so little about the Hunterston dispute that closed that deep-water steel port for months?

My hon. Friend is right. There is a great deal that the STUC can do to promote jobs in Scotland and help the Scottish economy. I hope that it will do so.

Why does the Minister show such abysmal ignorance about what happened at Hunterston? Why does he not tell his hon. Friends that it was the good offices of the STUC and not the Minister's stupid interventions that brought a solution to the Hunterston problem? Would the hon. Gentleman care to tell the House of the damage he has done to the Scottish economy by his wanton attack on Scottish workers before his visit to America? Is he aware that evidence is now becoming available showing that inward investment from America has been damaged by that attack?

The Hunterston dispute continued for six months and inflicted great damage on the Scottish economy. The hon. Gentleman's other remarks about inward investment from America are so unsubstantiated that they do not merit further comment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what increase there has been in unemployment in Scotland since 3 May 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people were unemployed in Scotland in May 1979; and how many are unemployed at the latest available date.

Seasonally adjusted unemployment in Scotland—the best guide to trend—increased by 24,800 between May 1979 and April 1980. On 10 May, 1979, the date of the monthly count, the total number of people registered as unemployed in Scotland was 165,441 and on 10 April 1980 the figure was 201,067.

Does the Secretary of State accept that he has used the figures which exclude the school leavers because they are convenient for him? Does he remember that when he last left office he left 300,000 people in Scotland on a three-day week? Is it really his intention to leave those 300,000 people totally unemployed, with the abject poverty that that brings to families in Scotland?

As usual the hon. Gentleman spoils a good point by extraordinary exaggeration. He might recall that, when I left the Scottish Office, unemployment was 88,400 and by the time that he left office in May last year it was no less than 181,000. [Interruption.] I do not know whether the hon. Gentleman's running commentary is intended to help the House, but he might remember that in the first year of the Labour Government the increase in unemployment was 25,000—rather more than the figure that I have just announced.

Is not the Secretary of State thoroughly ashamed of that abysmal record after one year in office? I wonder how serious unemployment will be after a further year. Will the Secretary of State comment on reports in today's issue of The Scotsman to the effect that the Government are considering the closure of Scottish Development Agency offices abroad? Does he accept that that will make it even more difficult to attract the vital foreign investment required to create the jobs that we so desperately need?

I suppose that I should be flattered that the hon. Gentleman expects me to put right in one year what his hon. Friends put wrong in five years, no decision of the type mentioned in The Scotsman report has been made. The Scottish Office and the Select Committee are looking into the matter and naturally we shall want to know what they have to say before making a decision.

Does my right hon. Friend agree that the best way to improve employment in Scotland is by investment and that that is being damaged by an unfortunate poor industrial relations image abroad? Does he agree that that image might not be justified entirely but that it is given further credence by the proposed inactivity on the day of action and the type of behavour that we saw at Hunterston?

I agree that that reputation is certainly not justified. I am sorry to say that it is greatly assisted by the fact that Opposition Members failed to make a proper condemnation of the strike record in the last year which, in many cases, was stimulated by them and their friends.

We applaud it.

Has the Secretary of State made any estimate of the extent to which unemployment will be increased if the pulp mill at Fort William is closed? What action is his Department taking? Do the Government believe that the newsprint option is still a runner?

I share the hon. Gentleman's concern about the situation at Fort William. We are sad that the proposal which we tried to get going has so far not come to fruition. As I said in my statement, we are still looking for other ways of getting the project going. I shall be glad to do everything possible in the coming months to try to achieve something in that area.

Will the Secretary of State come clean on the question of inward investment and the role of the Scottish Development Agency overseas? Has he not admitted that he is under pressure from other Government Departments, including the Foreign Office and the Department of Industry? Does he agree that the SDA will be hamstrung if the pressures are successful? Will he defend the SDA in its work of trying to improve employment in Scotland?

I have defended the SDA on many occasions. I am under pressure to improve the inward investment performance of Scotland generally. We are considering how best that can be done. We must take account of what the Select Committee has to say. I should have thought that that was the way that everybody wants to approach the problem.

Does my right hon. Friend agree that employment prospects in Scotland must depend heavily on the expansion of small firms? Does he further agree that the real extent and importance of the changes announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in capital taxation for small firms are being appreciated increasingly?

I am grateful to my hon. Friend. I am glad to see that since the Chancellor's announcement a number of people involved in small firms' organisations have made it clear that what he says is so. This is one way in which we can recover some of the jobs that we have lost in the last five years under the previous Administration.

A few minutes ago the Under-Secretary of State said that Government policies would work through in Scotland in the coming year. What is meant by that? Are we to understand that in the coming year there will be a genuine fall in the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate?

My hon. Friend was trying to make it clear that it is unreasonable to expect new economic measures to take effect in a year or less. All the Government's policies are directed to strengthening the economy and enabling the recovery which eluded the last Government in their five disastrous years.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when next he intends to meet the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when next he expects to meet the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.

My right hon. Friend will meet the convention on 20 June.

Before the Secretary of State meets the convention will he reflect on the results of last week's elections and the Labour victories which were achieved on the basis of a programme of opposition to cuts in Government expenditure and the tenants' rights legislation? Will he reconsider the provisions in the Tenants' Rights, Etc. (Scotland) Bill which will compel local authorities to sell houses? Will he withdraw those provisions and allow local authorities to determine their own housing policies?

The hon. Gentleman would be advised to consult the detailed analysis of the Scottish local elections in The Times of yesterday. The analysis concludes that the Conservative and Labour share of the vote remains the same as at the general election. The Government take great satisfaction in that. The hon. Gentleman must appreciate that the vast majority of council tenants in Scotland are anxious that they should be allowed to purchase their own homes. The Government have not the slightest intention of making any alterations in that proposal.

Since the Government's cash limit and their allowance for inflation in relation to Scottish local authorities in the coming year is, according to the convention's estimate, almost £100 million short of that needed to cover inflation, may I ask what he will say to Mr. William Fitzgerald, the Tory president of the convention, when he next meets him? Is the Minister aware of the statement made by that gentleman a fortnight ago—

" I think most authorities would regard further drastic cuts as being physically impossible "?

The first thing that I shall say to Mr. Fitzgerald is that the cash limit provided by the Government compares very favourably with the cash limit of the previous Administration which presumed pay increases of 5 per cent.—woefully below the reality. The cash limits which the Government have provided for take wage increases into account. The figure is more realistic than that of the previous Administration; and that view is shared by the convention.

When my hon. Friend reflects with COSLA on the local government election results will he bear in mind that the SNP was thrashed in the local government elections and that the Labour Party did worse three years ago than the Conservative Party did this year? Will he remember that Labour councillors remain in the minority in Scotland? Will he therefore undertake to persevere with the Government's policies?

My hon. Friend is correct. Three years ago the Labour Party suffered a net loss of 177 councillors in Scotland. Last Thursday the Conservative Party had a net loss of 43. It is an interesting comparison and my hon. Friend can take great satisfaction from it.

When the Minister meets the convention will he put right the misleading impression created by the Secretary of State at the recent annual general meeting of the Disablement Income Group? Is the Minister aware that the Secretary of State said, cruelly, that the disabled were not doing badly under a Tory Government when the reality is that major cuts have been made in the health and social work services, and that the Secretary of State for Social Services has said that the disabled must take their cuts along with everybody else? Will he put right that wrong impression?

The hon. Gentleman must check his facts before making accusations. If he checked his facts he would realise that the real level of spending on the Health Service in Scotland is increasing compared with previous years.

When my hon. Friend next meets the president of COSLA, Mr. William Fitzgerald, will he ask him to draw to the attention of the other members of COSLA the action of Tayside region, which has shown how a thrifty region can cope within its budget? Will he also ask Mr. Fitzgerald to look at the proposals for a £76 million overspend and draw attention to the fact that this overspending creates no new money? Does he agree that the money has to come from rates and that will affect business prospects in Scotland?

My hon. Friend is absolutely correct. It is significant that the one Labour Party group in Scotland—in the Lothian region—which set out to defy the Government found itself totally rejected by the electorate of Edinburgh. It failed to win a single seat from the Conservative Party in that city.

The boundaries were changed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are his plans for creating employment in Scotland.

Our policies are aimed at reducing inflation by economic and monetary measures and establishing a soundly based economy in which industry can expand and create secure jobs in Scotland, as elsewhere in the United Kingdom.

Is the Secretary of State aware that in the Strathclyde region we had 21,148 redundancies last year? It is now a fact that, so far this year, 80 per cent. of redundancies in Scotland are in the Strathclyde region. Will the Secretary of State further tell us—and I have now asked this question three times—about the ill-fated trip to America by his hon. Friend and say how many jobs have been brought to the Strathclyde region, or other regions, to mitigate the disastrous situation there?

As a Strathclyde Member of Parliament I share the hon. Gentleman's concern about the position throughout Strathclyde. The hon. Gentleman will be aware that we have recognised this fact in enlarging the SDA in West Central Scotland. We have left the region with the top level of grant and assistance of all kinds, and with a bigger differential over other areas. I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will welcome that fact as much as I do. As the hon. Gentleman knows, the visit of my hon. Friend to America was highly successful, though it is not possible to add up the number of jobs that might have been created in the short period since. The contacts made by my hon. Friend are still being followed up. It was certainly a worthwhile visit.

Does my right hon. Friend agree, apart from the measures announced by the Chancellor in the Budget, that the employment measures will also be of great assistance to those in small businesses who are anxious to expand and thereby improve employment prospects in the rural areas of Scotland?

I agree with my hon. Friend. It was widely known everywhere—except in the Labour Party—that the employment legislation of the last Government resulted in many people losing their jobs because small businesses did not dare to take people on. We hope to put that right.

Since the right hon. Gentleman has admitted today that he is considering closing SDA offices abroad and since he has said that the Select Committee is looking at this matter and that no decision will be made until the Select Committee has reported, may I ask him whether he is aware that not a single line of evidence from his Department has even suggested that such a thing was in prospect? Will he now, therefore, submit a paper to the Select Committee summarising his thinking. Will he come to the Select Committee to explain what is happening? If the Select Committee is to do a decent job in relation to inward investment we cannot base our judgment on evidence produced by newspapers.

As I never made such an admission it is not surprising that none of the papers provided by my Department made any such admission either. I stated, quite clearly—I do it again to make sure that the hon. Gentleman has not got the wrong end of the stick—that we are looking at ways of improving the overseas promotion effort of Scotland. We are considering this ourselves. The Select Committee is also considering it and we look forward to hearing what the Committee says before taking any decision.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that if the agriculture industry were suitably encouraged there would be great employment potential in that industry?

I agree with my hon. Friend. As he knows we have, on three occasions during the past year, devalued the green pound to the assistance of the agriculture industry. We have also made the largest ever increase in the hill livestock compensatory amounts. That should help those who work on the hill farms.

Is the Secretary of State aware that the people of Scotland are rapidly becoming tired of his saying that he is worried and concerned about the situation but not doing anything about it? In view of his comments on the Scottish Development Agency will he give a guarantee to the House that the report in The Scotsman today is wrong and that there is no possibility of SDA offices abroad being closed?

I think that I have made this clear enough already. The report in The Scotsman was not correct today though the whole question, as a matter of course, is under consideration in order to try to improve the performance of Scotland. We look forward to hearing the views of the Select Committee before making any such decision. That is perfectly clear to me, though it may not be clear to the Opposition.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will seek to increase the powers of the Highlands and Islands Development Board over the use of land.

No, Sir. The HIDB has similar powers to those of other public agencies and local authorities and I am not persuaded that there is need to extend them.

Does that mean that the Secretary of State rejects the legal advice given to the Scottish Office, which was accepted by his predecessor and referred to in paragraph 9 of the Highlands and Islands Development Board's case for increasing its powers under the 1965 legislation? Does the Secretary of State agree that it would be wholly unreasonable to ask the HIDB to put to use the powers that it has only to demonstrate their complexity? Does the Secretary of State accept or reject that legal advice or has he received fresh legal advice?

No, Sir. The legal advice is there and I have no reason to quarrel with it. The hon. Gentleman asks whether I wish to give new powers to the HIDB. I was making it clear that, if existing powers have not been used, I see no reason to give further powers to the board.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his statement that he is satisfied with the situation is almost incredible? Does he realise that the latest action of the feudal reactionaries who own the land in the Highlands is to charge exorbitant prices for leases on schools whose 100-year leases are running out? Is it not time that the question of land in the Highlands and Islands was tackled?

The Highlands and Islands Development Board has wide powers. If the board has not so far used those powers it would be strange if Parliament were asked to give it yet more powers without due cause shown.

In the hope that my right hon. Friend might get through to the Opposition at his third attempt, will he restate that he, and the HIDB, have powers to deal with those matters contained in the board's report? The board has never attempted to use those powers and until it does attempt to use them it should not seek additional powers.

I entirely agree with my hon. Friend and I am grateful to him for trying to get something into the minds of Opposition Members. I do not claim that I could do that in three shots. I would have to try for much longer than that.

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the wholly unsatisfactory nature of the Secretary of State's reply, I give notice that I shall seek leave to raise the issue on the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when next he plans to meet representatives of the Scottish Confederation of British Industry.

My right hon. Friend and I have met representatives of the Scottish CBI several times since taking office and have made it clear that we are prepared to meet them at any time they wish.

When my hon. Friend next meets the members of the Scottish CBI will he discuss with them the effect that the current unrealistically high exchange rate is having on Scottish manufacturing industry? Does my hon. Friend agree that that makes it difficult to sell the exports of Scottish manufacturing industry abroad and that it is having a depressing effect on output in Scottish manufacturing industry?

The CBI has raised this matter—as have most people in industry in Scotland—and is fully aware of the reasons why the exchange rate is high. It is known that the rate must reach its level on market conditions. Incidentally, the most recent report of the CBI showed that Scotland's export performance is still above average for the United Kingdom.

What are the CBI, or the Government, going to do about the problems facing the foundry and paper industries bearing in mind that in the Denny and Dunipace area of my constituency about 500 redundancies have been announced over the past three months alone? Will the Government look sympathetically at the request by the Central Region council to upgrade that area to special development area status?

We are aware of the difficulties facing the industry mentioned by the hon. Gentleman. They are the result of commercial and trading considerations which the Government are unable to help. As to an approach from Central region about development area status, that is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry.

Will my hon. Friend discuss with the CBI its recent representations about the burden of rates on industry and commerce in Scotland? Is it not a fact that in Socialist areas rate increases have been such as seriously to threaten very large numbers of jobs, especially in smaller firms?

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. The CBI has made representations about the high level of rates in a number of Scottish areas which, of course, is affecting jobs. I am sure that my hon. Friend is also aware that delegations from those local authorities come to Ministers to complain about unemployment, then go back to the regions, increase rates by more than 40 per cent. and wonder why unemployment is increasing.

Will the Minister make clear to the CBI that, even in Scottish regions where local authorities have seriously cut services—for instance, in the Borders region—the level of rate increases are still of the order of 38 per cent. or 39 per cent.? Does he not accept that it is the Government's policies which are damaging industry in Scotland and that basically it has nothing to do with the local authorities?

The point is that rates increases in Conservative authorities are considerably less than rates increases in Labour authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to improve the employment prospects of Dundee.

Our policies are aimed at creating a soundly-based economy in which industry can expand and provide jobs in Dundee as elsewhere. The changes we have made in regional policy are designed to concentrate support in the areas of greatest need, and we have placed Dundee in the highest category of these.

Will the Minister give a progress report on his assurances to a recent delegation about the continued future of the Robb Caledon shipyard? Can he also state what positive efforts he is taking to try to improve the amount of employment in the Dundee area, where the economy is precariously balanced at the present time?

In addition to retaining special development area status, the Scottish Development Agency is actively at work in Dundee. It is important to point out that the picture there is not entirely gloomy and that some new prospects and new jobs have come to the area and have been announced in recent weeks. Indeed, the district authority has recently announced that a number of American companies have made inquiries about the possibility of establishing operations there.

Will my hon. Friend take note that during the last three months of Tory control of Dundee, male unemployment, which has always been a significant problem, has dropped? Will he persist in his efforts—such as those in respect of the unique photographic technique firm which is being brought to Dundee—which will do very much more to bring jobs to that vital part of Scotland than all the shrill cries for militancy which emanate from the Opposition?

My hon. Friend is correct. In recent weeks, there have been a number of encouraging inquiries and business expansions. Commercially viable projects in that area, in addition to Robb Caledon, will continue to have the fullest Government support.

Will the Minister comment on the survey carried out among industrialists in the Dundee area by Dundee university, which revealed that rates came thirteenth in the list of reasons which attracted industry to Dundee? Is he aware that, items which came high up in the list included housing, education and a pool of skilled labour—all the items which the convenor of COSLA is now cutting back?

I am not surprised that incoming industry is more interested in skilled labour, housing and general infrastructure than rates of grant, if that is what the hon. Gentleman is suggesting. However, I have not seen the report to which he has referred and, therefore, I am unable to comment in any detail.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will seek to provide full official recognition to the Gaelic language in parity with the position accorded to the Welsh language.

I fully appreciate the importance of the Gaelic language, and will do what I can to encourage its use where appropriate.

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for that reply. Is he aware that one of his Friends recently said that Gaelic is not one of the indigenous languages of Scotland, and that a Labour Member said that the number of Gaelic speakers was falling? Both those statements are totally inaccurate. I thank him for the assistance which he was able to give to An Comunn Gaidhealach, but does not he think that it is now time that the Gaelic language was put on a proper, official footing?

I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman, and, although I do not share with him a knowledge of Gaelic, I share with him an appreciation of its importance to many people in Scotland. As to it being officially recognised, there is no difficulty in using the Gaelic lan guage in courts—such as in giving evidence and so on—and care is always taken, where appropriate, to ensure that interpreters are present. I think that that is the right way to approach the matter.

Is the Secretary of State aware that if he does not come to grips with the need to tackle the land use question in the Highlands, not only will there be no Gaelic speakers in the area but there will also be no English speakers either?

I do not really think that the absence or presence of compulsory powers for the Highlands and Islands Development Board has anything much to do with the encouragement of the Gaelic language.

Does the Secretary of State recall receiving Mr. Donald MacCuish of An Comunn Gaidhealach along with the right hon. Member for Western Isles (Mr. Stewart) and myself, and his description of the precarious position of Gaelic? Once a language dies, it cannot be brought back. Surely he agrees that a language which is in such a dangerous position requires more Government assistance and not less.

Why does not the hon. Gentleman go on hunger strike?

I appreciate the hon. Gentleman's concern. He may be aware that the total support which is given from public sources to Gaelic, including that from the Arts Council, is about £100,000 a year. I think that that is a fair measure of the importance which we attach to it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects next to meet representatives of the Educational Institute of Scotland.

My right hon. Friend has no plans for such a meeting at present.

Why is it that, despite several requests from myself and other hon. Members, the Minister has failed to make a statement about the recent crisis in Scottish education following the disastrous Clegg report? Instead of behaving with such dumb insensitivity, will the Minister give an assurance that the Government will not stand in the way of a fair wages settlement for Scottish teachers, even if it means giving extra rate support grant to local authorities?

I do not know where the hon. Gentleman has been, but he should know that the Clegg report, which came out at the beginning of April, was settled by the Scottish Teachers Salary Committee before the end of April. I believe that reflects great credit on both sides of the STSC. It may not say much for Clegg, but it says a lot for the negotiating machinery in Scotland.

When my hon. Friend next meets the Educational Institute of Scotland will he ask it to acknowledge that if teachers wish to continue to use outside professional analogues in pay negotiations, they should behave like professionals, and what is more, they should go to work looking like professionals?

There are enough problems in education in Scotland without laying down the style which teachers should use for their dress. Certainly, some teachers have behaved quite irresponsibly during the past few weeks, but the vast majority have continued with their work and have appreciated the settlement which has been reached.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what new circulars giving guidance to newly elected district councillors he intends to issue.

None. It is our policy to issue only essential circulars to local authorities, and I know of no need for circulars to individual district councillors of the kind proposed.

Does the hon. Gentleman realise that he has given great offence today to the Lothian region? It is a matter of simple geography that Edinburgh does not comprise all the Lothians. If the hon. Gentleman looks at the local election results, he will discover that in West and East Lothian his party was slaughtered and that in Midlothian there is not even a Conservative on the council. If the hon. Gentleman should consider amending the decision about sending cir culars to newly-elected councillors, will he consider following the dictum of his right hon. Friend, who believes that leaders of nations should respond to public opinion? Why does not the hon. Gentleman respond to the ballot box and change the policy which the Government are at present pusuing so disastrously?

The hon. Gentleman ought to check his information. He will appreciate that in the Lothian region the Labour Party hardly won a seat from the Conservative Party, and that any successess it had in West Lothian or Midlothian were entirely at the expense of the Scottish nationalists. If the hon. Gentleman is concerned about the public's views, he should appreciate that the Government were given a mandate for their economic strategy at the general election. Unless he subscribes to the doctrines of the Scottish National Party, the only party to believe in a separate Scottish mandate—whose views have been rejected by the Scottish public on every occasion during the past 12 months—he should realise that the Government's mandate is extant.

Does my hon. Friend recall that the Labour Party has never had a majority in Scotland? Does not my hon. Friend agree that if the Labour Party wants the Conservative Party to maintain its majority in Scotland, it should oppose the implementation of the Tenants' Rights, Etc. (Scotland) Bill?

My hon. Friend is correct. Since the last war, the only party to gain the majority of the popular vote in Scotland has been the Conservative Party.

May I congratulate the Minister on his determination not to give any guidance to local councils? Does not he accept that that would certainly be wrong? Should he be tempted to do so, will he put a sentence piece on the bottom of all such circulars saying that his advice should be disregarded in all circumstances?

The Government have great sympathy with that view. During the last year of the previous Administration 500 circulars were issued. We have issued only 200 circulars in our first 12 months in office. We are seeking to reduce the amount of unnecessary advice that is given to local authorities.

Does not the Minister think that local councils should be given advice on how to understand the Government's arithmetic? Did he not say earlier that COSLA was quite happy with the shortfall of £93 million in this year's cash limit, which is intended to cover the cost of inflation? Does he not realise that I received a letter from the secretary of the convention stating:

" The opinion of the Convention that the cash limit was totally inadequate has therefore been confirmed."

The hon. Gentleman's hearing is somewhat deficient. I said that the convention was satisfied that the Government's cash limits—however inadequate the convention might consider them—were enormously more realistic than those provided by the Labour Administration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland "if he will make a statement on the unemployment situation in Scotland; and when he expects the numbers of unemployed to decline.

The present very high level of unemployment reflects a number of factors which were already evident in the situation we inherited a year ago, notably growing weaknesses in our industrial performance and a rising level of wage settlements. A permanent improvement in the employment situation turns upon the establishment of a sound economy, and it is to this end that our policies are directed.

Does the right hon. Gentleman recognise that the recent report of the industrial trend survey, undertaken by the CBI, is deeply pessimistic on almost every ground? Does not he accept that it is pessimistic about investment, the number of firms working at under capacity and so on? Does he not further recognise that, given that there are over 200,000 unemployed in Scotland and only 20,000 notified vacancies, 11 men are chasing every job? Does he agree with his hon. Friend when he said that that trend is expected to improve within the next year?

I share the hon. Gentleman's concern about all the figures that he mentioned. I have studied them carefully. They are sombre figures that should be considered carefully. With respect, may I ask him to remember that those figures are the result of policies that have been maintained for many years and have weakened British industry. Perhaps he and his hon. Friends could do something to discourage next week's ill-fated day of action. That day of action has no relevance, and will probably weaken still further some of the small firms, which Labour policies sought for so long to destroy. Perhaps he will persuade Labour authorities to ease rate increases. That might do more to save unemployment than all the talking he may do.

Will my right hon. Friend give an assurance that there has been no slippage in the programme of dispersal of Civil Service jobs to Scotland? Will he include confirmation about the number of jobs affected, and the time of dispersal?

I am grateful to my hon. Friend, who has shown continuing interest in this subject. Our policy is perfectly clear, and is proceeding on course.

If the Secretary of State is so concerned about jobs in Scotland—he has claimed that rate increases lead to reductions in the number of jobs—will he say what is causing a reduction in the number of white collar jobs, particularly in New St. Andrews House? How far has he gone along the road to paying off the 1,400 civil servants under his control? Is not he committed to dismiss those civil servants during his period of office?

The hon. Gentleman should know better than any other hon. Member that redundancies have arisen as a result of the profligate overspending that he indulged in for five long years. He planned to spend all that extra money without giving a thought as to where it would come from. We are trying to put that right. I am looking in vain to see any sign of a blush on the hon. Gentleman's face.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in the light of the letter to the secretary of the Scottish Education Department, Mr. Angus Mitchell, of 8 April, from Mr. John Pollock, secretary of the Educational Institute of Scotland, and the reply by the Scottish Education Department on 17 April, if he will make a statement on his meeting with the Educational Institute of Scotland about general issues, widely known to relate to the case of Campbell and Cosans v the United Kingdom.

The meeting between the institute and my Department will be held on 9 May. I am not in a position to make any statement at present.

Does the hon. Gentleman think that one side of an argument should be heard and the other unheard?

Both sides of the argument were heard during proceedings before the European Commission. Those discussions are confidential, and parties are not at liberty to divulge any details of the proceedings.

Does my hon. Friend realise that the Scottish teaching profession is concerned about the way in which it is being pilloried, without a proper defence and without ensuring that its case has been put? Does not he accept that it is difficult to maintain discipline in schools and that the profession believes that the strap is an important part of that discipline?

My hon. Friend's points are correct. The Government's representations before the Commission sought to refute, on behalf of all citizens, the applicants' claim that the United Kingdom was in contravention of the Convention on Human Rights.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when next he plans to meet representatives of the Scottish Confederation of British Industry to discuss the progress of the economy.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier to my hon. Friend the Member for Leek (Mr. Knox).

When my hon. Friend meets the leaders of the CBI, will he thank them for their steadfast support of the Government's economic policies? In Particular, will he thank them for their support of the Government'? overriding aim of eliminating Socialist inflation? Will he take hope from the headline that appears in today's issue of The Scotsman? It states:

" Inflation outlook rapidly improving. Raw-material price rises slow ".

The Government are determined to persevere with their economic policies. The CBI has taken a realistic view and I wish that its opposite numbers in the STUC took a similarly realistic view. At the moment, they live in cloud—cuckoo—land, and are urging demonstrations that will take workers away from employment.

Has the CBI made the Minister aware that a growing number of firms in Scotland—particularly in Ayrshire—are on the short-time working compensation scheme? Does not he accept that, as the Government have reduced that scheme from one year to six months, the latter period is now expired in many cases? Does he not accept that, unless that scheme is extended, there will be a lot of redundancies in many of those firms?

As the hon. Member says, the scheme is of a temporary nature and seeks to help companies that are trying to overcome a short-term difficulty. We cannot continue to support companies that are no longer viable

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has any plans to meet the chairman of the White Fish Authority.

I have no immediate plans to meet the authority's chairman, but would hope to have an opportunity of doing so on an appropriate occasion.

When my right hon. Friend has such a meeting, will he discuss with the chairman the alarming evidence of flagrant breaches in Common Market regulations concerning the catches of mackerel and herring? Is he in a position to give any assurance that the Government intend firmly to back the interests of Scottish fishermen against lawbreakers?

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that question. I discuss this subject whenever I meet anyone in the fishing industry. As I have said, we take care that every piece of evidence given to us is brought together and forwarded to the Commission. The Commission then knows what is going on. We have sent a copy of the film, shown in a recent " World in Action " programme, to the Commission, so that it can see that as well. We shall do all that we can to support the Scottish fishing industry.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that lobster fishermen in Uist are in a serious position? What arrangement can be made for fishermen outside a producer organisation to receive finance as a result of the Government's recent award to the fishing industry? Is there any possibility that such fishermen might receive assistance?

As the right hon. Gentleman knows, aid is channelled through the producer organisations. Where such a producer organisation exists, discussions should take place through it.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the recent " World in Action " programme was not the first source of an allegation against foreign fishermen for breach of EEC regulations? When may the fishing industry expect to see action being taken against such flagrant breaches? Is it not time that action was taken, rather than hearing about talks, or television programmes?

I appreciate the hon. Gentleman's concern in this matter. He may be interested to know that during 1979, of 18 foreign skippers prosecuted for illegal fishing in United Kingdom waters, 17 were convicted. So far this year, eight foreign skippers have been prosecuted and all have been found guilty. Therefore, we are taking action wherever we can.