HC Deb 29 April 1971 vol 816 cc695-6
15. Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make an official visit to Fauldhouse, West Lothian.

Mr. R. Carr

I have no such plans at present, but I hope that an opportunity to do so may arise in the future.

Mr. Dalyell

Would the right hon. Gentleman reflect on the appalling industrial behaviour, at which some of us are aghast, on the part of a small minority of management who give no notice of reorganisation or closure, either to local trade union officials or to county planning authorities, let alone Members of Parliament? Would his Department look in particular at the case of John Collier of Blackburn, with its head office in Leeds, which closed a factory without saying a word to anyone in the district, before any plans could be made? This must be looked at in detail.

Mr. Carr

I have no knowledge of the individual case mentioned by the hon. Member, but I will certainly make inquiries and look into it. On the general point, this is one of the matters that I hope will be seen to figure importantly in the Code of Industrial Relations Practice. I agree strongly with the hon. Member that good procedures here, good notice when, unfortunately, there have to be redundancies, to individual workers, trade unions and my Department are of immense importance in handling these matters, not only in the most efficient way but in the most humane way.