asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what fresh initiatives he proposes to take this year to reduce the level of unemployment in Scotland.

We are making additional resources available this year for the youth opportunities programme and have asked the Manpower Services Commission to work out details for a new scheme to help the long-term unemployed. Other special employment and training measures will be considered as part of the Government's annual review of the measures. The Budget also contained a number of important measures to help industry.