Dundee

HC Deb 23 April 1975 vol 890 cc1467-9

12. Mr. Gordon Wilson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will pay a visit to Dundee.

Mr. William Ross

I have no immediate plans to do so.

Mr. Wilson

If the Secretary of State were to make a visit to Dundee now, next week, or in the near future, he would realise that there was a great deal of concern about the revelations in the World in Action programme "Dundee Dossier", which was shown on television last week. That anxiety is shared by many citizens in Dundee, regardless of political affiliation. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the revelations and allegations which have been made suggest that there are problems of principle and practice in the conduct of local affairs in Dundee which require urgent examination? The fact that Dundee Corporation will soon cease to operate and will be replaced by a district council will not, in view of the practices which have been suggested, necessarily dissipate the anxieties which have been caused. Will the right hon. Gentleman immediately set up an inquiry into this whole affair?

Mr. Ross

The hon. Gentleman talks about "this whole affair". That is rather a vague phrase. He, as a lawyer, will appreciate that the Secretary of State can act only in accordance with his statutory powers. My statutory powers regarding inquiries relate either to formal determinations as required by legislation concerning the statutory powers and functions of local authorities or to the question whether a local authority is in default of its statutory powers. There is no statutory power to order an inquiry into the actions, attitudes, morals, ethics, or anything else, of an individual councillor. If the hon. Gentleman appreciates that, basically it would be wrong of me to give him an answer. Investigations into allegations of crime and criminal proceedings resulting therefrom are not matters for the Secretary of State. I think that he should know that.

Mr. Doig

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this programme amounted to trial by television? This type of programme does not contain the normal safeguards that we have for justice in proper court trial procedures. Therefore, my right hon. Friend ought to look at this type of programme to see what can be done to prevent what is an abuse of justice in this form of trial by television.

Mr. Ross

There is no doubt that this is a dangerous practice, but when people ask me to order an inquiry they should turn their minds back to an earlier Question Time when the hon. and learned Member for Kinross and West Perthshire (Mr. Fairbairn)—I think it was—objected to the unfairness of an inquiry in which no one was on trial but which seemed, evidently, to be accusing someone of a crime. This House of Commons should be careful about these matters and try to be fair to all concerned. I share my hon. Friend's concern about the nature of this matter, and if anyone—this includes BBC people and anyone else—has any information about this kind of thing, he should not sensationalise it in this way but should send it to the Procurator Fiscal or the police.

Mr. Alexander Fletcher

When the right hon. Gentleman next visits Dundee will he take the opportunity to support American investment in that city and elsewhere in Scotland, and refute Left Wing the nationalist criticism which will discourage overseas investment in Scotland?

Mr. Ross

If the hon. Gentleman knew anything about the history of American investment, in Dundee in particular he would realise that it was when my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister was President of the Board of Trade that the greatest surge forward took place in Dundee and in Scotland in that respect.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

I am sure the right hon. Gentleman recognises—his hon. Friend the Member for Dundee, East (Mr. Doig) made it plain—that, regardless of the merits of the programme, this matter has caused considerable concern in the whole of Dundee and the Tayside Region. In view of the need for the new structure of local government to get off to a good start and have the respect and support of ratepayers and others in the area, will he look at the whole matter closely? Apart from any legal aspects in the Crown Office, if a public inquiry is necessary about what may emerge may we have an assurance that he will deal with this very carefully indeed?

Mr. Ross

I have looked into the matter. The Secretary of State can act only within his statutory powers. The hon. Gentleman should know that. I refer him to the answers given—when the hon. Gentleman was an Under-Secretary of State at the Scottish Office—by his right hon. Friend who was then Secretary of State for Scotland and who is now in another place. He took up and pointed out this very fact in relation to Dundee.