HC Deb 25 November 1975 vol 901 cc640-2
2. Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the causes of delay in setting up civilian defence jobs in Scotland.

The Minister of State for Defence (Mr. William Rodgers)

If my hon. Friend is referring to dispersal, there is no delay.

Mr. Dalyell

Is not the reality of this situation that the Civil Service unions have seen the example of the Forestry Commission, which uprooted itself from Basingstoke to go to headquarters in Edinburgh and now, faced with a demand that the Scottish forests be the responsibility of a Scottish Assembly, has to find other headquarters for those responsible for the English forests? If they pick up The Scotsman newspaper these days, is it any small wonder that the unions are extremely reluctant to move to a part of Britain which they may think may be separate in a few years' time?

Mr. Rodgers

As my hon. Friend will guess, I do not think that I can involve myself in the question of Scottish forests, which is the issue he raises. However, in so far as he makes a very serious reference to the experience of Civil Service staffs, I can only repeat that consideration of devolution will not affect the Government's plans for dispersal.

Mrs. Bain

Does the Minister accept that many of us on the SNP Bench often believe that Cabinet Ministers cannot see the wood for the trees? Beyond that, however, will he accept that many people in my constituency are gravely concerned about the dispersal of defence jobs in view of the fact that the nature and the types of jobs being brought to the area have not been disclosed and discussed with the local community?

Mr. Rodgers

I am not sure whether the hon. Lady wants or does not want defence jobs. I can only repeat that a decision has been made by the Government and we propose to honour it.

Mr. Cartwright

Does my right hon. Friend accept that there is very serious concern in my constituency about the possibility of transferring thousands of Quality Assurance jobs from Woolwich to Glasgow? As this would involve the expenditure of millions of pounds and add seriously to the many employment problems in South-East London, and as many of the key professional and technical staff involved have already indicated their unwillingness to move to Glasgow would not this impair the whole operation?

Mr. Rodgers

I am aware that there are some issues upon which the Government cannot win. My hon. Friend has been very forthcoming in rightly drawing my attention to the problems which would arise for his constituents were a decision made which would affect them. But the Government's intentions on dispersal, very carefully considered and announced last year, cannot be carried out unless some of those who have previously found jobs in the south of the United Kingdom find jobs in future in development areas and areas of high unemployment.