SECRETARY OF STATE FOR SCOTLAND AND UNEMPLOYMENT

Early day motion 359, tabled 24 February 1999 by Alex Salmond (Scottish National Party). Signed by 2 members.

That this House deplores the dismissive nature of the response from the Secretary of State for Scotland to the honourable Member for Falkirk West at Scottish questions on 23rd February on the issue of rising unemployment; believes that the honourable Member for Falkirk West was raising an issue of both local and national concern and that for the Secretary of State for Scotland to describe the honourable Member's question as suggesting the 'end of the world is nigh' is deeply insulting to the thousands of Scots threatened with redundancy, to whom the prospect is often akin to the end of their world; and recalls that those in previous governments who have made similar remarks such as 'unemployment is a price worth paying' or suggesting people should get 'on their bikes' to find work have lived to regret treating this subject in an insensitive or flippant way.

Signatures by party: Scottish National Party 2.