from a Glasgow correspondent
a new broadsheet published by the Political and Economic Planning (P.E.P.), an independent research organisation, estimates that to maintain its present proportion of population in Britain, Scotland needs another 150,000 jobs over the next six years. Of these 100,000 will have to come from expansion in manufacturing industries.
The broadsheet is by implication very critical of the Tory policy of closing down Scotlan@és railways and pits, Wo plans for Scotland are soon as boing successful without adequate fuel and transport services, and at present national policies are "not geared to the potential expansion of ecom omic activity in Scotland." If the objectives in the broadsheet are to be attained, the Scottish economy needs a 5% expansion rate for 7 or 8 years.
For transport, the conclusion is inescapable; no curtcilment of facilities must be permitted until the full needs of all localities have been assessed in the light of omployment and trade targets, Again, it is pointed out that by the 1980's, total energy needs in Scotland are likely to be over 40 million tons of coal equivalent and the broadsheet says that Scottish fuel policy should aim to secure a coal output of 20-25 million tons a year by tho early 1980's,