asked the Minister of Labour if he will estimate the number of building trades workers who will be unemployed as the result of the proposed cuts in the Scottish housing programme; and how he proposes to absorb them into other industries.

No general unemployment of Scottish building workers is likely to arise in the immediate future as the result of implementing the recommendations made in the White Paper on Capital Investment in 1948.

Can my right hon. Friend make an estimate for a little beyond the immediate future? Is he aware that there is considerable concern in Scotland among building operatives at the prospect of such unemployment?

There ought not to be that feeling at the moment. It is impossible to look too far ahead, but there are now over 5,000 building vacancies in Scotland, 3,000 of which are in connection with housing schemes. There is still a lot of work for people there. Further, the Scottish hydro-electric schemes will shortly require an additional 5,000 building workers. There need not be any serious apprehension about the situation.