asked the Minister of Labour how many skilled and unskilled workers whose last employment was in the construction industry are at present unemployed in Scotland.

At 9th November, 10,364 workers whose last employment was in the construction industry were registered as unemployed in Scotland. Of these, 10,001 were men aged 18 and over, of whom 1,187 were skilled. I regret that an occupational analysis of the remaining 132 women, 224 boys and seven girls is not available.

Would not the hon. Gentleman agree that the impact of the 7 per cent. Bank Rate in Scotland will increase the problem of unemployment in the construction industry there?

I should like to congratulate the hon. Gentleman on his supplementary question. For any Tory to weep crocodile tears about unemployment in Scotland requires a degree of brass-faced cheek which is most impressive.

Can my hon. Friend say how many of the skilled and unskilled workers referred to in the Question belong to the shipping and associated industries in north-eastern Scotland and what steps he is taking to reduce the number by correcting the delusion propagated by the last Government that the north-east of this island ended at Newcastle-upon-Tyne?

I am afraid that my hon. and learned Friend's Question goes rather wider than the original Question.