Electricity Supply Industry (Redundancies)

HC Deb 27 May 1971 vol 818 cc567-8

22. Mr. Thomas Cox

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he intends to take to assist persons made redundant in the electricity supply industry to find employment.

Mr. Dudley Smith

My Department will do everything possible to assist anyone made redundant to find alternative employment. The specific steps will depend on the circumstances but, where appropriate, will include interviews by job teams for employment ends and special canvasses for vacancies.

Mr. Cox

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that his Answer will bring slight comfort to the many men who have loyally served the electricity supply industry and who are being forced into redundancy. Is he aware of the bitterness felt by these men who are being forced out of work when at the same time an increasing amount of contract labour is being introduced into the industry—labour that is often paid at much higher rates than are paid to men who have been loyal servants of the industry for many years? Are these men not justified in looking to the Government for alternative work?

Mr. Smith

These redundancies occur in comparatively small numbers, and at present there is a guarantee that there will be no compulsory redundancies during 1971. I do not think the problem is as bad as the hon. Gentleman suggests.

Sir H. Harrison

Is my hon. Friend aware that the Central Electricity Generating Board does everything possible in this matter, that any redundancies are nearly always agreed and that none is forced?

Mr. Smith

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Most redundancies have been caused by a productivity pay scheme which will make the industry more efficient.

Mr. David Stoddart

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the number of proposed redundancies is not small but involves some 10,000 men, which under no circumstances can be considered a small figure. Since many of these people have served the industry for many years and have given good service, they surely should expect to receive much greater consideration not only from their employers but also from the Government, who have been encouraging better productivity in the electricity supply industry?

Mr. Smith

I maintain that it is a comparatively small problem. In fact, between January and April this year there were 170 redundancies.

Dame Irene Ward

Would my hon. Friend bear in mind that this sort of atmosphere causes much anxiety among men who, as they grow older, should not be expected to face such a situation? Is my hon. Friend satisfied that the machinery in the C.E.G.B. for consultation between management and men, and, indeed, the whole caboodle of what goes on in this sphere, works satisfactorily? It is surely important to give men who have given good service a feeling that their difficulties are appreciated, and surely the industry owes them fair treatment.

Mr. Smith

Yes, of course. The better the consultation, the better the industrial relations. But I am reasonably satisfied that the arrangements in this industry are good.