Scottish Economy

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 4:46 pm on 29 November 1983.

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Photo of Donald Dewar Donald Dewar , Glasgow Garscadden 4:46, 29 November 1983

We are entitled to be bitter about the way in which the oil revenue has been wasted. There is complacency about the level of unemployment and there is complacency also about the chances and prospects of recovery for the Scottish economy. The Secretary of State is showing every sign—the name changes with ministerial changes—of Lawson's disease, which is fatuous optimism in the face of all the evidence.

I have read the Fraser of Allander Institute report of November 1983. It comes hot from the press, but it does not come with good news for the Government. It states that Scotland is the only region not to have had an increase in seasonally adjusted vacancies in the three months to October. Every region of the United Kingdom except Scotland had an increase, but it has decreased in the United Kingdom generally. Overtime in Scotland is falling more rapidly than in the United Kingdom overall. The index of industrial production fell by 2·6 per cent. from the first quarter of 1982 to the first quarter of 1983