HC Deb 14 October 1968 vol 770 cc19-20
32. Mr. G. Campbell

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will make a statement on her discussions with employers and unions on industrial relations in the motor car industry.

The Under-Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity (Mr. Harold Walker)

Following talks under my right lion. Friend's chairmanship representatives of both sides of the industry agreed on 7th October to set up a National Council for the Motor Industry, covering initially major assembly and component firms, to examine the need for new procedural machinery, to review wage structures and to improve industrial relations generally. The two sides are holding urgent discussions on the Council's constitution and terms of reference and have agreed to report progress to her as soon as possible.

Mr. Campbell

This House will hope that the present discussions with the motor and engineering industries will help to prevent crippling damage to the country's economy, but do the Government recognise the long-term nature of the problems involved? When will a White Paper on the Donovan Report be presented, or some other positive action be proposed by the Government?

Mr. Walker

My right hon. Friend has promised that she would put a White Paper before the House before Christmas, concerning the Royal Commission's proposals. On the question of the immediate problems confronting the motor industry, one difference between the new Council and its predecessor, the National Joint Council which it may replace, is that its terms of reference have been widened to permit it to look into longer-term problems, such as the question of the wages structure and the procedural agreement.

Mr. Gwilym Roberts

Does not my hon. Friend agree that the major causes of industrial difficulty in the motor industry is the economic uncertainty which has been perpetuated in the industry in the past, with its hire-and-fire, short-time, over-time atmosphere? Does not he agree that the greatest single contribution would be the extension of Government planning throughout the industry and the avoidance of Tory methods of market control which bring about economic uncertainties?

Mr. Walker

I am sure that there is adequate trade union representation on the new Council. No doubt this is the kind of question that it will look at.

Mr. Frederic Harris

Why have the Government taken all this time to wake up to this appalling threat to the industry which may hold the country to ransom in a week or two?

Mr. Walker

The problems in the motor industry are not new but have persisted over a period of time. There have been repeated attempts by successive Ministers of Labour to come to terms with it. We are hoping that this will mark a new and perhaps more fruitful stage.

Mr. Dalyell

Are the problems of the commercial vehicle industry, such as at the B.M.C. plant at Bathgate, being taken separately?

Mr. Walker

No—they will be included in the considerations of the National Joint Council which will review the whole industry.