asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development how many additional jobs he anticipates will be provided in Coatbridge and Airdrie during the second half of this year; and if he will give details.

There are now over 10,300 jobs in prospect in the North Lanarkshire Group of employment exchange areas. Over 3,400 of these are expected to arise in Coatbridge and Airdrie. I cannot estimate how many of them are likely to arise in the second part of this year.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that while that news will be welcomed by the people of Coatbridge and Airdrie and of North Lanarkshire generally, so far the number of jobs provided has failed to meet the amount of unemployment which has arisen out of obsolescence in industry and changes in the techniques of manufacture and production? Has he seen the figures published recently by his right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour, showing that Coatbridge and Airdrie regretfully occupy first and third places in the unemployment league table of Lanarkshire? Is it not time that the Government tackled this unemployment problem in an effective fashion by creating an adequate number of jobs in the area?

I would agree with the hon. Gentleman that there is a problem. At the same time, I would ask him to recognise that there has been a considerable improvement. In June, 1963, 6·8 per cent. of the working population of North Lanarkshire was registered as unemployed. In June of this year the figure was 4·2 per cent., a considerable improvement.