§ 7. Mr. Benceasked the Minister of Labour what consideration he has given to setting up an early warning system to give him advice on possible redundancies arising from take-over bids.
§ Mr. GunterThe Employment Service, which is constantly on the watch, has had considerable success in persuading employers to give advance warning of all kinds of redundancies; and the Redundancy Payments Act, which comes into 5 force today will require advance notice in cases where payments under the Act are involved.
§ Mr. BenceWhile thanking my right hon. Friend for that Answer, which represents a tremendous advance on anything done in the past, may I ask him to bear in mind that we get cases in Scotland of firms taking over industrial units and transferring the employment to the Midlands and the South? Will he use his good offices when such take-overs occur to see that employment is concentrated in Scotland rather than in the South?
§ Mr. GunterYes, indeed. My hon. Friend knows that this would be the intention of the Government. However, on the question of redundancy payments, whether it be a take-over bid or anything else, the provisions of the Act would operate.