HC Deb 12 July 1972 vol 840 cc1574-6
24. Mr. Eadie

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland at what stage in consultation he has been associated with announcements of contraction of the coal and steel industries in Scotland.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

Arrangements about the future of particular pits or plants are normally made by the industries themselves after consultaion with the trade unions concerned. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and I keep in close touch on related issues of concern to the Government.

Mr. Eadie

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the credibility of his Department is at stake? According to the newspapers, the Government were unhappy about the BSC making the steel redundancy announcement. Are we to take it that the Government wanted delay either to hide the position from the people or because they have no solution to the problem of the contraction of the coal and steel industries?

Mr. Campbell

Under the Act passed by the Labour Government nationalising the steel industry, the British Steel Corporation can take these decisions itself. It is for the corporation to carry out its duties under that Act.

Mr. James Hamilton

Will the right hon. Gentleman concede that the pricing of steel was a Government decision and not one taken by the British Steel Corporation? Will he also concede that the announcement was made without consultation with both his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and himself and that both were deeply annoyed that the announcement was made? Is the right hon. Gentleman prepared to stand up and be counted on the whole question of the steel industry in Scotland and to say that he will lead us in the fight for a Hunterston steel complex?

Mr. Campbell

The British Steel Corporation does not need to consult the Government under the terms of the steel nationalisation legislation enacted by the Labour Government. As stated in a reply to a Question at the beginning of last month, there have been 6,000 redundancies in the Scottish steel industry in the past five years. Therefore, the announcement did not greatly change the tempo of redundancies. The Government are, of course, very much concerned about the effects of the necessary closing of open-hearth furnaces, which was discussed in the House some weeks ago, and we shall do all we can to make sure that where redundancies occur jobs are made available.

Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

Can my right hon. Friend say what contribution was made by the miners' strike in the spring to the contraction of the coal industry in Scotland?

Mr. Campbell

Not without notice.