:I beg to present a Petition to this Honourable House which has been organised by a body named the General Practitioners' Association, which has been signed by 6,115 practitioners at present in the general medical services throughout this country. It is concerned with the grievances felt by many men and women in general practice at their terms of service, and the Petition reads as follows:

asked the Minister without Portfolio what action about the provision of nursery facilities for the children of mothers at work he is proposing as a result of the deliberations of the Women's Consultative Council of which he is chairman.

I have no responsibility for providing such facilities. The subject is one of several arising in discussions of the social consequences of economic growth in which the Women's Consultative Council has been engaged over the past year. My right hon. Friends concerned are kept fully informed of these discussions.

Surely if the right hon. Gentleman is chairman of a Committee of some importance he ought to make a report to improve the facilities. Is he aware that there are 2¼ million children at the ages of 2 to 4, many of whom need nursery school facilities, and only 455 local education authority schools. Will he accelerate his deliberations so that a report can be put forward to the right quarters?

We are aware of those facts. We have had some valuable discussions on them, and my right hon. Friends have been informed of the consequences of those discussions.

the Minister without Portfolio if he will introduce legislation to permit the Press Council to take space in advertising columns of newspapers to publish its reports where newspapers have failed to publish them, and to provide it with up to £100,000 a year for this purpose.

No, Sir.

Does the Minister agree that the main value of the Press Council reports is, by exposure, to put newspaper readers on guard against misrepresentations or misleading treatment of news, and also to make newspaper proprietors more scrupulous? If the newspaper proprietors suppress such reports of their own misdoings, what alternative proposals, or better proposals, has the Minister in mind?

:It is not for the Minister but for the Press Council, which has not made any request to us on these lines, and I do not think the Press Council would wish us to interfere with what at the moment is a perfectly free operation.

asked the Minister without Portfolio if he will make a statement on his official activities during the past year

No, Sir.

:Is not that answer all the more suspicious, in view of the fact that I wanted to ask the Minister on what official activities he was engaged on 17th October last and whether he or someone else in the Government information services told the Press who the new Prime Minister was going to be long before certain of his Cabinet colleagues knew about it? Is this not a grave reflection on the integrity of the Government information services, especially in view of accusations that news management can be taken too far?

No, Sir. I do not at all accept the implication of that question.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of that reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible opportunity.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will make a statement on the progress being made towards implementing the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act, with particular reference to the date of operation; what steps are being taken to recruit a central inspectorate; what advice has been given to local authorities on their duties under the Act; and what regulations have been prepared laying down detailed standards.

asked the Minister of Labour what progress has been made in the implementation of the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act; how many additional inspectors he intends to recruit; and how many have so far been recruited.

As I informed the hon. Member for Shipley (Mr. Hirst) on 19th December, I intend to bring most of the provisions of the Act into operation on 1st August, 1964. Certain administrative provisions, including the registration of premisesunder Section 49, will be brought into operation on 1st May, 1964. The Factory Inspectorate is being strengthened to meet the direct enforcement responsibilities falling on them. The required increase cannot be precisely calculated at this stage, but arrangements have been made to recruit initially 20–30 additional inspectors. I am also appointing a number of senior factory inspectors to undertake duties under Section 57 of the Act.

While thanking the Minister for that reply, may I ask him whether he can say if the number of inspectors that he announced is meant to be the beginning of a much larger recruitment, bearing in mind that there are about 8 million workers affected by the provisions of this Act and that the whole crux of its success is the standard of enforcement? Secondly, can he give more detail of what will come into effect and what will have to wait longer? Having waited 15 years since the publication of the Gowers Report, people interested in this subject, in the unions and the public generally, do not want much further delay before the important provisions come into effect.

As to the first part of that supplementary question relating to the number of inspectors, we shall have to see how we get along. I should think that the number that I have authorised at the moment should carry us forward for a substantial time. If it is necessary to take further action we shall do so. The hon. Gentleman will, of course, be aware that a lot of the enforcement duties will rest with local authorities rather than directly with my Ministry.

The right hon. Gentleman has told us how many inspectors he hopes to get. Can he tell us how many he has so far got for this purpose? On what basis does he come to the conclusion that the co-ordination of a large number of local authorities can be carried out by only 20 additional inspectors in the central inspectorate when the Factory Inspectorate is already very much over-stretched?

Since 31st July when the Act was passed, 30 new inspectors have taken up post. However, there has been a wastage of 11, which leaves a net increase of 19.

In view of the fact that in recent years there has been some difficulty in recruiting factory inspectors, is my right hon. Friend really satisfied that we shall be able to recruit the right type of men and women? Could he say whether the Inspectorate now considers that its salaries and conditions of service are adequate to meet the situation and to attract the right type of men and women to this important service?

I doubt whether any section of the community is satisfied that its salary is sufficient. However, I think we shall get satisfactory numbers coming forward, and the number I indi- cated of the new intake of inspectors is not unsatisfactory. We shall have to see how we get along.

asked the Minister of Labour how many industries including coal mines, iron and steel works, and tinplate works, in Wales, have ceased production during the last 12 years; and how many men and women have lost employment as a result of the closure of these industries.

:I regret that this information is not available. The number of employees in employment in Wales increased from 907,000 in mid-1950 to 954,000 in mid-1962. The figures for mid-1963 are not yet available.

Surely the hon. Gentleman will be aware of the survey taken by the trade unions covering the period 1951–61, which showed a decline of 100,000 jobs in the basic traditional industries? Furthermore, is the hon. Gentleman aware that the insured population of Wales has increased by only 14,000 in the period 1960–62? Does not this matter require more attention than the Minister is giving to it, since it covers a wide field embracing agriculture, forestry and fishing, chemicals and allied manufactures, metal manufactures and mining? Does not the hon. Gentleman consider that remedial measures should be undertaken?

:The hon. Gentleman asks me for information about the closures. Of course, our officers know about the major closures, but we do not have the comprehensive information which he seeks because there is no obligation on employers to notify particular closures. The number of people in employment in Wales shows that the trend, as the hon. Gentleman has suggested, is declining in agriculture, coalmining, shipbuilding and marine engineering, but on the other hand it is increasing in iron and steel, engineering and electrical groups, construction, distribution and professional and scientific services. On the whole, this indicates an increase in the total number employed.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, following the Report of Lord Cameron into the complaint made by the National Union of Bank Employees, he will hold talks with the National Union of Bank Employees, the Bank Staff Associations and with the managements of the banks, with a view to settling the question of the refusal of the banks to recognise the National Union of Bank Employees as representing its members

asked the Minister of Labour if he will make a statement on the policy of the Government in relation to the Report of Lord Cameron and the National Union of Bank Employees.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he is taking to assist the establishment of proper machinery whereby the National Union of Bank Employees can exercise normal rights of representation on behalf of its members, as suggested in paragraph 326 of Lord Cameron's Report.

My officers have been in touch with all the parties on matters arising from Lord Cameron's Report. Representatives of the four banks concerned in the inquiry have been invited to discuss with my officers the suggestion in paragraph 326 of Lord Cameron's Report, and I hope there will be an early meeting.

Could the right hon. Gentleman say whether the representatives of the four banks now agree that there are no reasons for their refusal to accept oral representations from the National Union of Bank Employees as well as written ones?

This is one of the matters that I am seeking to explore at the moment. I do not think it would help if I were to comment until I have had further discussions with the parties.

I welcome the fact that the Minister is going to have some meetings, but does he not agree that this trouble might have been avoided if a similar initiative had been taken by his predecessors? Will the right hon. Gentleman keep in touch with the prob- lem and bring home to the banks the fact that their refusal to meet the unions is out of date and out of touch with modern practice in the commercial world?

The position is not satisfactory. I would not accept that my predecessors have not done all they could. There are very strong feelings on both sides. I have discussed the matter informally with various people concerned, and one comes up against these prejudices, which are very real. There is no point in my saying more until I have explored the matter further.

Would the Minister not agree as a point of principle that there can be no reason in 1964 for an employing authority to refuse to negotiate with a bona fide trade union which has a large number of employees in its organisation?

I should not like to make any further comment than I have already made. I think it is better that I should try to make progress. I am sure the hon. Member appreciates the many difficulties which exist. I want to make progress, just as he does.

asked the Minister of Labour what consideration is being given in his Department to the establishment of an occupational health service.

:The safeguarding of health at work in accordance with the provisions of the Factories Act and Regulations is a standing preoccupation of my Department. I also encourage the development of medical and nursing services in industry, but I have no proposals for their compulsory provision.

:What has happened to the proposal made to the Minister by the Industrial Health Advisory Committee, which, I think, originated from the British Medical Association? Is he saying that no consideration has been given to that? Has not the time come to do something on the basis of the several pilot schemes in occupational health which have been showing good results?

I agree that some of the pilot schemes have been showing good results, but, as I have said, I think that the responsibility which the Government accept at present in implementing the Factories Acts goes a very long way in this matter. I cannot undertake at present that I will go beyond the voluntary field. This does not mean that I shall not discuss the matter further with my National Joint Advisory Council.

:Does not the Minister recall that he has been fortified by two very valuable reports in recent years, one about the town of Halifax and its industries and factories, the other about the pottery industry of Great Britain? As both of these showed how desirable it was to have firmer and quicker action than he has yet been able to offer us, will not the Minister accept that we need an occupational health service, not necessarily an expensive one?

I think that the present way must continue, working by the voluntary process. A great deal is being done by this process, and it should not be minimised. A lot is being done by individual firms and I am all for encouraging this in any way possible. I could not undertake to go further than that today.

In his consideration of this subject, has my right hon. Friend had his attention drawn to the excellent group scheme organised by the Corporation of the City of London for office workers in London? In his talks with the National Joint Advisory Council, will he bear in mind the position of office workers in our larger cities and groups of office buildings?

I have not seen that report. I am grateful to my hon. Friend for drawing it to my attention.

asked the Minister of Labour how many places will be provided in Government training and retraining centres in Scotland in the current financial year; how many in 1964–65; and whether he is satisfied that these numbers are adequate.

About 400 training places should be provided by the end of the current financial year, and about 860 in 1964–65. These numbers constitute a substantial advance, but I shall keep these plans under regular review.

:Does not the Minister realise that this is a substantial advance only because the previous effort was negligible, and does he recognise, as is recognised in Scotland, that the size of the Government's effort in this matter in no way matches the magnitude of the problem which has to be tackled? Will he give further consideration to it in order to increase substantially the effort now being made or contemplated?

:We must not minimise what is being done. There has been a very substantial build-up and this is being carried on at the present time. When I was in Scotland a little while ago, I went to one of these centres and saw the excellent work being done there. We must carry on on this basis. It should not be assumed that these numbers represent the total impact, because to the extent that one trains a certain number of people one is able to make provision for others who are semi-skilled to be employed as well.

the Minister of Labour what additional staff he has appointed during the last three months to prepare the organisation for the Industrial Training Boards.

:One officer has been added in the last three months to the eight officers engaged full-time on work arising out of the Industrial Training Bill. A further six will be appointed soon, and others as the need arises.

:Does the right hon. Gentleman recall that, during the Committee stage of the Bill, he said that he would be pressing on as hard as he could to get a good foundation for the scheme? Is he satisfied that this small number of staff is adequate to make all the consultations and take all the preparatory steps to give a good start to the scheme?

Yes, I am satisfied at present. We are going ahead on the lines which I indicated during the Committee stage and we are having a lot of consultations. But, of course, the ultimate accession of staff will be more to the boards themselves than to my Ministry, and this, I think, is where the bottleneck may arise at a later stage.

Does the Minister agree that, apart from the staffing of the boards, what is required here is a major thrust from the centre? Haying turned down some of the suggestions made about having a separate central training authority and having decided that the effort should be within his Ministry, does the Minister really think that the numbers which he gave to my hon. Friend indicate a sufficient drive on his part?

:Yes, I do. The work which can be done at this stage is limited to a certain extent. Once we have got the Act on the Statute Book, of course, we can enlarge on the amount of work we do. I have indicated the intake which I expect at present, but I shall not hesitate to increase it if the need arises.

asked the Minister of Labour, following the general reduction in working hours from 44 to 42 per week between 1959 and 1962, what information he has on the average number of extra minutes worked as overtime over that period.

The average amount of overtime in manufacturing industry was approximately 2 hours a week in 1959 and 2¼ hours in 1962.

Do not the Minister's own figures show that over this period there was an increase of only 30 minutes in overtime worked? Does not this contradict the current argument that claims for shorter hours are really only disguised wage claims, and also destroy the argument that if hours are reduced from 42 to 40 workers would only put in the same number of hours for more pay?

I cannot accept that. The figures I gave cover the whole field, of course, but in some industries the position is very different. For example, in the building industry the standard week was reduced by three hours between October 1959 and October 1962, and the hours actually worked by male operatives fell by 0·3.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons are em- ployed in the production of ordnance, armoured fighting vehicles and small arms; and what proportion is employed in Royal Ordnance Factories.

:About 29,000 persons are classified as employed in the manufacture of ordnance, tanks and small arms; of these rather over one half are employed in Royal Ordnance Factories. Separate employment figures are not available for the manufacture of armoured fighting vehicles other than tanks.

:Does not the fact that nearly half the employment on conventional arms is in private industry make a mockery of the Government's assurance that the Royal Ordnance Factories should be a preferred source for the production of conventional arms?

:I must point out that in the standard industrial classification the people I have mentioned include not only those who are making military weapons but those making such things as sporting guns and air rifles. The hon. Gentleman will appreciate that the amount of work is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War.

In order to maintain the numbers already employed in Royal Ordnance Factories, will the Minister ensure that factories such as the one at Patricroft will be allowed to tender in open competition with private firms?

I shall see that the hon. Gentleman's remarks are brought to the attention of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War.

the Minister of Labour what provision he is making for the re-employment of disabled persons made redundant by the closure of the Royal Ordnance Factory, Woolwich.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War is arranging for alternative jobs to be offered to all redundant established employees who wish to continue in the Government service. Those disabled persons who do not wish to accept such employment, and those who are not established, will be eligible for all the benefits of the Disabled Persons (Employment) Acts, and our disablement resettlement officers will do all they can to find them other suitable employment.

:The R.O.F. at Woolwich has a particularly good record in this respect. Can the Minister say precisely what are the numbers of disabled and impaired workers at the factory?

:At present, about 152 are registered disabled persons.

asked the Minister of Labour how many severely disabled unemployed persons in the London area would suffer financial loss if they chose to work for Remploy instead of continuing to draw social welfare benefits

:About 50, or one in nine, would lose on the starting rate, but earnings of Remploy workers can increase with experience; on a longer term view, therefore, the number who would lose would be much less than 50, but I cannot give a precise estimate.

:Even if the number is only 50, does not that indicate that there should be another look at Remploy rates so that a man is not penalised by going to work? Alternatively, cannot some special supplemental welfare benefit be paid in this limited class of case?

:The hon. and learned Gentleman will appreciate that the Remploy wage rates are negotiated in the usual way between the company and the trade unions. In the circumstances, I do not think that it would be proper for me to comment on that. I shall bring to the notice of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the other point which the hon. and learned Gentleman makes.

What is the average wage paid to adult men employed in Remploy factories?

:In London, to which the original Question referred, about £9 15s. a week at present.

asked the Minister of Labour what were the numbers, at the latest convenient date, of school leavers, boys and girls, who were unable to secure employment at the Staffordshire employment exchanges at Tamworth, Lichfield, Rugeley and Brownhills.

On 13th January, at the youth employment offices in these areas, school leavers registered as unemployed were one boy at Lichfield and two boys at Brownhills.

Would the hon. Gentleman seek information from his Department and decide whether his regional office is adequately briefing the overspill-receiving areas concerned, because, although these figures do not show that a serious situation exists, I have been informed unofficially that one employment exchange manager has not received proper information about the arrival of population from Birmingham?

I will certainly ensure that the hon. Member's point is fully investigated.

the Minister of Labour how many people are now unemployed as the result of a dispute at the plastic factory at Mauchline, Ayrshire; and what steps he is taking to deal with the situation

The firm dismissed 31 of its employees who stopped work to attend a meeting outside the factory on the previous afternoon. One of the employees has since been reinstated. My information is that the others are still unemployed. At the request of the Association of Supervisory Staffs, Executives and Technicians our Industrial Relations Officer for Scotland has discussed the position with the management. The management is not prepared to meet the Association. The Association has submitted a complaint that the firm is not observing the Fair Wages Resolution of this House and the complaint is under consideration.

:Does the hon. Member agree that, in these enlightened days of labour relationships, employees are entitled to belong to a trade union of their choice? Will he bear this in mind in further negotiations?

:It is important that we should seek to do everything we can to resolve this problem. I prefer not to comment further at this moment.

:If this allegation about the Fair Wages Resolution not being observed is correct, it is a very serious position, especially if Government or local authority contracts are being secured by this firm. It is a breach of the rules governing such contracts.

Certainly. That is why we are investigating this matter particularly carefully.

the Minister of Labour what further steps he will take to train skilled manpower for the recently announced industrial estate on Tees-side; and whether he will establish an apprentice-training school for the estate forthwith, in view of the continuing high level of youth unemployment in the North-East.

As already announced, I am establishing a Government training centre at Billingham to provide 216 training places which I hope will be ready to start training in the autumn. In addition, the North-East Training Council with Government assistance has launched a Group Apprentice Training Scheme which includes the availability of full-time apprentice training places at the I.C.I. training school.

:Is the Minister aware that these provisions were made before the announcement of the new industrial trading estate on Tees-side, and that if the trading estate is to employ anything like the numbers which the President of the Board of Trade has announced it will employ, many more skilled men will be needed? Will not the right hon. Gentleman take further steps in this matter? Is he not aware that the number of unemployed boys in the North-East is higher than it was at this time last year and that the provision which he has made for their employment is about a tenth of what it should be?

:I am aware of the considerable number involved here, and this is a source of worry to me. That is one reason why I was happy to be able to make arrangements with I.C.I. at Billingham for a special course for fifty unemployed boys, which will, I hope, be continued at a later intake. There are also, of course, various provisions at the local education authority technical training colleges to assist those who are remaining in the educational sphere. However, if it should be shown that there is a need in this particular estate and that we can provide the necessary additional men for training, I shall be very happy to look into that.

What does the Minister mean by "if it should be shown"? Is he waiting for the need to arise in about three years' time when the men will be needed? Cannot he anticipate the demand?

We have stepped up our training programme very much in the whole north east area. The hon. Member must be aware of that. The very substantial increase concerning Billingham is only one aspect of the matter. If there is further need, I am willing to study it, but we must get this initial programme going.

:Will my right hon. Friend agree that some of the responsibility in this matter falls on free enterprise which is willing to accept responsibility if only the understandable hesitations of trade unions can be broken down? May I ask him yet again whether he can take an initiative to find some accommodation in this matter?

:One of the problems in particular industries is getting classes started. I discussed this matter with certain representatives of the trade unions in the North-East only a few days ago. I put to them very strongly ray feeling that it was necessary to anticipate demand to some extent. But it is not always easy to assist with additional training by overcoming people's feelings when there are men out of work. This is a point of which people must take account

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of boy and girl school-leavers who are still unemployed in the Dearne Valley area; and how many of these have made applications for National Assistance benefit.

On 13th January, 32 boy and 16 girl school-leavers were registered for first employment at the Mexborough and Staincross Youth Employment Offices. Of these, seven boys and eight girls have made applications for National Assistance.

:Does not the Parliamentary Secretary think that it is rather disgraceful that these boys and girls have not been able to obtain employment? What is he doing, together with the President of the Board of Trade, to ensure that other industries go to this district? Do his officers advise these young boys and girls that they may apply for National Assistance?

On the first point, I think it fair to point out that, of the total number of school leavers which I mentioned, thirteen of the boys and seven of the girls left school just before Christmas. They are being absorbed, although not as quickly as one would wish. I note the hon. Member's point about the location of industry which, he will appreciate, is for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry and Trade. I understand that the answer to the hon. Member's last point is "Yes", but I will check it for him.

the Minister of Labour how many men and women are now registered as unemployed in the Mexborough Employment Exchange area

564 and 322, respectively, on 13th January.

Regarding women who are unemployed, has the hon. Member taken into account the numbers who travel out from this district to as far as Huddersfield and Bradford for employment? Will he do something more for the women of this area to make certain that other employment is found nearer to their homes? On the male side, can he say how many men in John Baker and Bessemer are involved and how many men it is expected will be involved when the plant is finally closed? What does he think will happen unless further jobs are brought to this district to ensure that unemployment is greatly reduced?

I accept that the point about employment for women in this area is a difficult one. However, the hon. Member will know that a clothing firm, Corah of Leicester, is to build a factory at Goldthorpe to employ 200 females. Recruiting has already begun and I think that this project will provide welcome opportunities. At Doncaster, British Nylon Spinners plan a development to employ 800 males and 100 females. This project is also very welcome. Three-quarters of those at John Baker and Bessemer who were discharged as redundant at the beginning of January have already obtained employment.

:May I ask my right hon. Friend, with regard to this very difficult problem, how school-leavers who have not yet obtained employment are being absorbed into these training centres? Is the policy matched up—

:I am aware that the hon. Lady sought to ask a supplementary question on the last Question, but I did not see her rise. However, what she asks does not arise from this Answer.

asked the Minister of Labour what are the weekly earnings of the men who are on strike at Port Talbot; what is the size of the wage increase claimed which is the subject of dispute; and if he will make a statement on the progress of his talks with both sides of the industry

The Ministry does not publish separate figures for the earnings of employees at individual firms. The Steel Company of Wales has stated that the average weekly earnings of A.E.U. members employed at its Port Talbot Works are £25. The union has stated that the average weekly earnings of its members are £22. The union claim is for a substantial increase. No specific amount has been stated. As the House will be aware, a proposal made by the T.U.C. on Friday, following its discussions with all the unions concerned, was considered at a meeting of A.E.U. members at Port Talbot this morning. I understand that the T.U.C.'s proposal was not adopted and that the meeting put forward alternative proposals.

I do not think it would help if I were to involve myself publicly in discussion of this matter. I am sure that my hon. Friend will realise the delicate nature of the discussions. I must try to find a solution to this dispute and I shall continue to do so.

asked the Minister of Labour the ratio of wholly unemployed girls to unfilled vacancies for girls in Scotland and the Midlands at the latest convenient date

the Minister of Labour the ratio of wholly unemployedboys to unfilled vacancies in Scotland and the Midlands at the latest convenient date

:In December, for every 100 wholly unemployed girls there were 125 unfilled vacancies in Scotland and 1,019 in the Midlands region. For every 100 wholly unemployed boys, there were 44 vacancies in Scotland and 510 in the Midlands region.

:Do not these figures demonstrate that there is need for a very great increase in employment opportunities for young people in Scotland? Will the Minister draw this to the attention of his colleagues, and particularly the Postmaster-General, who is considering the resiting of the Post Office Savings Bank, which, if it came to Scotland, would help to solve this unemployment problem among young people?

Yes. My right hon. Friends are very much aware of the needs of the area. That was one reason for the production of the special plan for central Scotland. Although in relation to both boys and girls the position is, I fully agree, very unsatisfactory, it is not nearly as bad as it was a year ago.

:The Minister must realise that the figures which he has just given are disturbing and that in Scotland there is grave fear that if the Government continue in office, these young people, who ought to be in work, may never be in work. Can the Minister announce any further steps which he is taking—for instance, by bringing Government orders to Scotland—to ensure that more of our young people find work?

I certainly do not accept the gloomy forecast in the first part of the hon. Lady's supplementary question. I have indicated the Government's concern in relation to this whole matter. As I have said, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is very concerned, too, and that is one reason for the general plan which was produced some little while ago.

:Is the Minister aware that no general plan was produced and that it was a plan for only one part of the area? In regard to Question No. 33, we are dealing with—when the figures were taken—over 3,000 boys under the age of 18. Is the Minister aware that since that time there has been another batch of school-leavers and the figure today would be very much higher, but the chances are that the number of vacancies would be no higher? What are the Government doing to effect dramatic changes in this situation of continuing gravity for these young people?

As to the first point raised by the hon. Member, it is true that the plan is for central Scotland, but this should produce material benefits over the whole area, as the hon. Member must realise. I have said that the figures give concern, but it would be quite wrong to say that there is not a definite improvement. Although the figure is over 3,000, a year ago it was 3,960 as against 3,050 now. This is a substantial improvement, which should not be ignored, although, obviously, we must not let up in our efforts to improve matters.

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied that young people in Scotland are made fully aware of the fact that they can obtain certain travel facilities and concessions through his Ministry, and that whilst one would not accept this as a long-term solution, in the short term more of these young people might be assisted to come down to the Midlands? Further, is my right hon. Friend satisfied that the travel concessions given by his Ministry are adequate for this purpose?

These provisions are made. Where the conditions are right, and the parents and young people are willing, we will help in any way desired. I am, however, aware of the feelings against this practice in Scotland and for that reason I have not pressed it.

The Minister keeps referring to comparisons with a year ago. Does he expect this to give the House any satisfaction in view of the abnormal situation with the weather and other factors a year ago? Would he not agree that the present figures are far worse than the post-war average and in most parts of the country worse than in any other post-war year except 12 months ago?

No. It is quite fair to draw the comparison, as I have done, with a year ago, because that was before the bad weather had effect. These are figures for mid-December. The bad weather did not begin to have its effect until we had the January figures. It is not unreasonable, therefore, to show that the underlying trend is definitely better than it was a year ago.

asked the Minister of Labour the ratio of wholly unemployed men of 18 years and over to unfilled vacancies for men in Scotland and the Midlands at the latest convenient date.

In December, 19 to 1 and 3 to 1, respectively.

Does not that Answer emphasise once more the great gulf economically between the situation in Scotland and the Midlands and, no doubt, other parts of the country? Can the Minister guarantee that the steps that the Government have now taken or contemplate taking will lead to a substantial reduction of the gulf as between Scotland and the more prosperous areas of the country?

I cannot, of course, give a guarantee, but it is right to say that the hon. Member has chosen a disparity between an area where a tremendous boom is taking place and an area which does not have a boom. We are trying to even up the balance. We are doing it in the various ways which I have announced and the advance factory projects are beginning to have a real effect.

Is the Minister aware that the lack of housing in the Midlands is serious and that although people there are willing to have increased employment opportunities, the Government must be careful to ensure that they both ease the employment situation in Scotland and, at the same time, do not bring young people away from their homes unless there is adequate and a proper type of accommodation for them?

That is a perfectly fair point and I accept it.

asked the Minister of Labour what percentage of the Great Britain total of men of 20 years and under who have been unemployed for six months and more worked in Scotland and the Midlands at the latest convenient date.

The available statistics relate to persons under 20 and are collected twice yearly. In July, 1963, 30·7 per cent. of all males in Great Britain under 20, wholly unemployed for over 26 weeks, were in Scotland and 6·2 per cent. in the Midlands region. I will send the hon. Lady the figures for January, 1964, as soon as they are available.

Does not the Minister again see from these figures the grave situation that we have in Scotland? Will he inform his hon. Friend the Member for Rutland and Stamford (Mr. K. Lewis), who suggested that our young people should leave Scotland, that 25,000 leave regularly every year and that we in Scotland are determined to fight with everything that is in us to prevent more and more of our young people leaving our country and leaving us with an ageing population? Will the Minister please tell us today what plans he has for ensuring that our young people remain in Scotland and that of those unemployed, over 30 per cent. are not unemployed for over six months?

As I have said in answer to previous Questions, what I am doing for the young people of Scotland is stepping up substantially the number of places for training in Government training centres. These will be available to help and, of course, the Industrial Training Bill will be of further help in training. All the things that we are doing in other directions—and I have mentioned advance factories—will help. However, the main thing is to get the climate of opinion and a feeling that Scotland is going ahead, and I am wondering whether concentration on all these points really helps the purpose that hon. Members have in mind.

Is not the Minister aware that this position has gone on for at least 12 years and that to ask us at this time to be patient is asking rather much? Is he aware that one in every three of the long-term unemployed is in Scotland and that one in every five young boys unemployed is in Scotland? It is much more than we can stand to be asked to watch our words and be careful. Why do not the Government get on and do something adequate?

That is not particularly helpful. Hon. Members must realise—and they do—that the basic problem of these areas is that some older industries have declined materially over the last few years. The Government have been helping by trying to bring fresh industries into these areas and are succeeding in doing so. I know that the figures are still bad, but that is because the new industry has been working against a sharp decline in some of the older industries. We are continuing the programme and I am certain that it will help the situation.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the ratio of wholly unemployed boys to unfilled vacancies for boys in Glasgow and the Midlands at the latest convenient date

At the December count, for every 100 wholly unemployed boys there were 38 notified vacancies in the City of Glasgow and 510 in the Midlands Region.

Does the Minister realise—I am sure he does—that the situation here now in Scotland, and particularly in Glasgow, shows a deterioration in opportunities, especially for shipbuilders, and in the humiliation of our young people who want to take up training with a view to getting skilled careers but cannot, and that this has become a built-in feature of the community structure and that, despite the qualifications which men have, their opportunities for using them in Scotland are practically non-existent?

I realise the special difficulties here in the shipbuilding areas. Of course, the Government have done a good deal in the last year to stimulate the position in shipbuilding areas, and the Clyde has had some advantage in this.

Yards have closed.

Yes. It is, of course, true that some yards have closed, but the hon. Gentleman knows perfectly well, as I do, the force of international competition. This is a very real problem with which we are all concerned.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that some of us who represent divisions in the North-East are very grateful to some of the Churches which have done a great deal to help with employment for young people away from home as a temporary alleviation of this problem?

I agree with my hon. Friend.