Scottish Assembly on Unemployment (Hansard, 22 November 1972)

§ 4. Mr. Eadie
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has received an invitation to be represented at the Second Scottish Assembly on Unemployment on 15th January, 1973; and if he has asked to address the Assembly.

§ Mr. Gordon Campbell
I have received an invitation, as a Member of Parliament, but for the reasons which I explained fully to the hon. Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) on 27th January in relation to the first such conference [Vol. 829, c. 521] it would not be appropriate for me to attend.

§ Mr. Eadie
Why not?

§ Mr. Campbell
The General Secretary on that occasion informed me that the difficulty about a Minister attending was clearly understood.

§ Mr. Eadie
But if the right hon. Gentleman were to change his mind and a specific invitation was made to him to address the conference, what would be his attitude towards informing the conference on the question of unemployment and about employment prospects for the Scottish people this winter? Would he have to inform them that his Government and he were so apathetic that as yet they have not worked out a winter work programme in order to alleviate the scandalous level of unemployment in Scotland?

§ Mr. Campbell
On the first point, the object of the last conference was stated to be to prepare proposals and demands for presentation to the Government. It is difficult for a Minister belonging to that Government to take part in preparing such proposals to be made to the Government. That was perfectly well understood. Regarding the second point, I have already referred to the recent unemployment trends, which are, fortunately, favourable for Scotland.

§ Mr. Buchan
In the light of the right hon. Gentleman's previous promises in relation to Hunterston, in the event of the British Steel Corporation decision going against Hunterston would he not then resign and be able to visit the assembly in a private capacity?

§ Mr. Campbell
I hope that my views about Hunterston are well known and have not been too much twisted by the hon. Gentleman and other Opposition Members. They have been well set out in HANSARD and elsewhere over the last three years or so. They are that I believe that this valuable site should be used in the best possible ways for Scotland, whatever industries or combination of industries may be involved.

§ Mr. David Steel
Will the Secretary of State reconsider the question of his attendance at the assembly? Is there not a clear case for him to attend as Secretary of State at this the second assembly? In view of the very wide-ranging and representative nature of the audience, is it not a very appropriate gathering which he should address on this subject?

§ Mr. Campbell
This is a matter for those arranging the assembly. It has certainly not been the view of the General Secretary of the STUC, because of the aims which he has had for the previous conference and, I believe, for this one. This is a matter for them. But there are other occasions when I am able to put the Government's views.