HC Deb 04 June 1974 vol 874 cc1031-7
The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. William Ross)

With permission, I should like to make a statement about action taken to give priority for supplies of motor fuel to essential services in Scotland in the light of the situation resulting from the industrial dispute at the Grangemouth oil refinery.

I must first explain to the House the reason for the lack of advance notice about the introduction of the Government's measures last night. The oil supply situation in Scotland deteriorated very rapidly over the weekend to the point where speedy action was needed to safeguard the interests of vital users. The Government thought it right to take that action without delay and the effectiveness of the action clearly depended on notice being given soon enough to be publicised in this morning's Scottish newspapers and late enough to avoid a run on the filling stations yesterday evening.

The purpose of the order introduced yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy was to give some measure of protection to priority users in Scotland by setting aside three hours each morning for them at filling stations. The order makes it illegal for anyone other than specified authorised users to obtain petrol or diesel fuel between the hours of 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. Basically, these authorised users are those whose services are vital to the well being of the community, for instance, public transport, health, police and fire services, and the food and fuel industries. A full list is contained in the order and has been published in the Scottish Press. Other motorists may of course get fuel outside these hours.

The success of this measure will depend a great deal on the co-operation of all concerned. In particular, I appeal to non-priority motorists to stay away from filling stations during these hours, and for all to conserve fuel in every way possible. It is also very much in the public interest that those retailers who are receiving deliveries should conserve some of their stocks for authorised users and avoid selling out at other times of day.

The rôle of motor fuel retailers is vital. Proprietors will need to ensure that their staff are informed of the published list of authorised users and given guidance about their identification. I am confident that garages will take a responsible attitude now that the Government's measures, and their importance for the community, have been made clear. I know, too, that the public will appreciate the difficulties of the garage operators—and particularly their staff—and will exercise tolerance.

Meanwhile, the Government are continuing to keep a close watch on the situation. I am sure all hon. Members hope for a speedy settlement, but in the meantime it is in the interests of everyone in Scotland that the public and retailers should give their support to these measures.

Mr. Teddy Taylor

Does the Secretary of State agree that the situation in Scotland is desperately serious, that certain industries, including the steel industry, are grinding to a halt, and that the fishing fleet in the North-East is finding it difficult to get diesel supplies? In view of the severe damage the dispute could cause to Scotland and its future, does he not think the least he should do at this stage is to appeal to the men to go back to work, as the agreement under which they are operating does not terminate until September and the offer which has been made by the management would result in their becoming the highest-paid refinery workers in the United Kingdom?

Is this not yet another indication of the serious state of labour relations in Britain, in which there is a damaging strike which appears to be straight blackmail?

Will the Secretary of State give some indication of the steps he is taking, or can take, to help the Scottish tourist industry, as tourism does not appear to have any special exemption? Before suddenly introducing this order did he discuss the situation with industry and the motoring organisations, and will he say what their views were? How long does the right hon. Gentleman expect these temporary arrangements to last, and what long-term arrangements is he planning to bring forward if the dispute persists for several days or more? In short, how long can the temporary arrangements last?

Mr. Ross

The speed of the action we took determined the extent to which we could have consultations so that there was no consultation with the people concerned. It has been suggested that we took far too long to introduce the measures, and I can assure the hon. Member that consultations would have delayed the action rather than getting it on at the right pace.

On the hon. Member's suggestion about what should be done over the dispute, we must realise that we are in a serious situation and that whatever we say here may have an effect upon the matter. I ask the House to show a certain measure of forbearance. A meeting is going on in Grangemouth between the companies and unions, with conciliation officers of the Department of Employment in attendance. I sincerely hope that there will be a speedy settlement. We have our part to play in cooling the situation rather than making it much more difficult for those who are dealing with it.

Sir M. Galpern

1 am obliged to my right hon. Friend for his statement and explanation. I wonder whether the public and hon. Members realise the tremendous difficulties that have been created for the people of Scotland. Places of employment have had to shut down early to enable their workpeople to get home during the curtailed period of the public bus services. In a very short time the whole of the life of Scotland could come to a standstill. We should all like to see a speedy settlement. The question arises of how long we can carry on, even with the measures for the special categories that have been enumerated, before these services also come to a halt. Therefore, the Scottish people would like an assurance that positive steps will be taken because of the tremendous hardship they are undoubtedly suffering through no fault of their own.

Mr. Ross

1 can give my hon. Friend the assurances he seeks. The real solution is the settlement of the dispute. The fact that action has been taken and that meetings are being held with the presence of conciliation officers of the Department of Employment is an indication of the gravity we attach to the situation. The fact that we have taken these measures is an assurance that we are watching the situation and realise its seriousness for the people and industry of Scotland.

Mr. Grimond

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his statement that discussions are going on and that concila-tion officers are trying to settle the dispute will be met with widespread approval in Scotland? Does he agree, however, that the people of Scotland have a right to know the basic issues in the dispute? What are the men paid now, and what are they claiming? How long has their claim been in? Am I right in thinking that it is an unofficial strike? Will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that if it goes on the supplies of fuel which are essential to fishing, agriculture and certain forms of industry will be included in the special arrangements he has announced today?

Mr. Ross

I am dealing here with supplies obtained through filling stations. Bulk suppliers are in a different position. Those that are supplied from BP are in an especially weak position. I understand that special arrangements are possible. At Bangour hospital an approach was made to the suppliers, who approached the strike committee, which allowed supplies to be continued. I hope that anyone in a vital industry that is affected will take such steps. It would be better if the right hon. Gentleman asked my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment about the detailed matters he raised.

Mr. Harry Ewing

I speak as one who spent every day last week speaking to both management and unions in order to keep both sides together in an attempt to resolve the dispute. Of necessity, because other matters do not come under his Department, my right hon. Friend's statement deals only with the fuel supply situation. Will he ask my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment, who is also sitting on the Government Front Bench, to send a Minister from his Department to Scotland if the meeting today, which is scheduled for 4 p.m., breaks down in deadlock? Will a Minister be sent to bring both sides together to discuss the dispute and bring about a much-needed settlement? Will my right hon. Friend also speak to the CBI in Scotland, which is now complaining about the lateness of Government action, when in the first five days of the dispute it was saying that the dispute was having no effect on Scottish industry? May we ask that it checks its methods of monitoring the effects of such strikes on Scottish industry?

Mr. Ross

We do not rely on the CBI for information about the effects on Scottish industry, although we find that it is helpful in relation to the information we already receive through the Department of Industry. As to the question of why action was not taken sooner, negotiations were proceeding over the weekend, and it was only when we realised that the dispute would continue and the situation became worse that we felt we had to take action. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment is present and will have heard my hon. Friend's suggestions.

Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

Will the Secretary of State confirm that the employers in the dispute have offered all that they are entitled to offer, for better or for worse, under the law of the land as it stands, and that therefore the purpose of the dispute is to secure a breach of the law?

Mr. Ewing

The hon. Gentleman does not understand.

Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

In those circumstances, how much has been paid by way of strike subsidy in the dispute? What price the social compact in this connection?

Mr. Ross

I do not accept what the hon. Gentleman says. I said a little earlier that the House should show a certain measure of forbearance and not make a settlement more difficult.

Mr. Dalyell

As one with constituents involved, may I ask whether my right hon. Friend agrees that there are genuine complexities, and that it behoves us all to be a bit more reticent than the hon. Member for South Angus (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne)?

Mr. Ross

I fully agree.

Mr. Younger

I welcome the right hon. Gentleman's statement, but does he understand that there is a great deal more action he must take urgently in addition to that which he has announced this afternoon? In particular, will he say something about the position of those who live in the remote areas in the Highlands, who depend for the entire resources of their lives on the sort of fuel involved in the dispute? What arrangements are made for members of the public to ring up to obtain information? Will the right hon. Gentleman see that adequate arrangements are made to cope with the large number of calls, because the public face chaos today?

Mr. Ross

Some people suggested that we should make the measures I have announced today apply only to those parts of Scotland that are more seriously affected. I am glad to say that some areas outside the central belt are not so seriously affected at present, but we felt that it would be wrong to discriminate in respect of areas.

The Emergency Unit of the Scottish Office is manned from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. and duty officers are there as well. We have encouraged people to ring and have given the telephone number for them to apply there for information if they have any questions. The same applies to the Department of Industry in Glasgow.

Mr. Hugh D. Brown

In order to secure public co-operation, which is what my right hon. Friend is appealing for, is it not necessary to give more information about how seriously low are stocks of fuel? May I have an assurance that his offices or the offices of the Department of Employment will be available at ministerial level if that should be necessary?

Mr. Ross

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment will have heard the suggestions. I have tried in my public utterances to make the gravity of the situation perfectly clear to everyone. I am convinced that we shall get, and that we are getting, the co-operation of the public generally for the measures I have announced.

Mr. Teddy Taylor

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer some specific questions? What steps do he or the Government have in mind to deal with a desperately serious situation affecting the fishing fleets in the north-east, which do not have diesel, the steel industry, which is paying off men, and the public transport services, which in some areas are reduced to negligible proportions? Several of my hon. Friends have asked how long the temporary arrangements will last before something else must be done. What has the Secretary of State in mind? Will he not at least say at this stage that he believes the men should go back to work, observing that the agreement they are working under does not end until September and that the offer made to them would make them the highest-paid refinery workers in the United Kingdom?

Mr. Ross

I do not know whether the hon. Gentleman desires to be unhelpful, but the fact that the Government are already taking action, that this Government believe in conciliation, and that our conciliation officers are there today, is an indication of what we are doing. I explained that the measures I have announced related to the public at large and to supplies through filling stations. If further steps are required, they will be taken.

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