HC Deb 28 June 1976 vol 914 cc9-11
7. Mr. Canavan

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will make a further statement about the Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Bill.

Mr. Varley

It is the Government's firm intention to obtain Royal Assent this Session.

Mr. Canavan

As shop stewards from Scottish shipyards are reported to be meeting the SNP today to urge its Members to support the Government on the Bill tomorrow night, does my right hon. Friend agree that the SNP Members would be well advised to follow that advice in order to make atonement for their previous folly of voting against the Bill? Otherwise, Scottish workers will see through the sham patriotism of the SNP and recognise it for what it is—a party of quislings.

Mr. Varley

I very much hope that the SNP will realise how serious the situation in the shipbuilding industry is. When the hon. Member for Perth and East Perthshire (Mr. Crawford) asked a supplementary question a moment ago, I thought he knew how serious the situation in that industry is. I hope that SNP Members will take no action at all which will frustrate public ownership.

Mrs. Bain

Will the Minister accept that if he were to nationalise the hon. Member for West Stirlingshire (Mr. Canavan) we would accept that as the Government recognising one of Scotland's liabilities? More seriously, will he remember that, using the Scottish steel industry as an example, nationalisation, under London-based management, has meant decimation of industry, and will he remember that the people of Scotland, particularly in the West, have had no assurances given by the Secretary of State that no shipyards would be closed in Scotland?

Mr. Varley

If the steel industry had not been nationalised, I do not know what would have happened to the steel industry in Scotland. I do not know what would have happened without the public money that has been pumped into that industry.

As regards the shipbuilding industry, I ought to send the hon. Lady a list of the items of public money that have already gone into the Scottish shipbuilding industry. For example, I do not think that the Govan yard would have order prospects to the extent that it has without assistance being given to it by the Government.

Mr. Bryan Davies

Will my right hon. Friend accept that the whole country wants an end to the confusion and uncertainty created by the hiatus over the passage of the Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Bill? Does he accept that the degree of confusion on the Opposition Benches is so great that I understand that several Opposition Members have booked summer cruises on oil rigs?

Mr. Varley

I know for certain that managers and workers within the industry —I emphasise "managers", if that will have any impact on the Tory Party—have said that they want an end to the uncertainty that exists, and by no means do the managers in the industry want to see the industry stay in private hands.

Mr. Heseltine

Of course the uncertainty should be brought to an end, but does not the Secretary of State agree that the quickest and cheapest way of doing so would be to drop the Bill that is before the House? Will the right hon. Gentleman now understand that, if his recent speeches in which he anticipated widespread unemployment as a consequence of nationalisation had been made at the time the Bill was first introduced, that would have done a great deal to diminish the enthusiasm of the left wing of the Labour Party for it?

Mr. Varley

Most of that was a total distortion of what I have been saying over the last few months. We have made no secret of the fact that shipbuilding is one of the most serious problems facing the Government. We are certain about one thing: if we are to overcome the formidable problems facing the industry, it will be done only on the basis of public ownership. But the Tory Party does not have a policy on shipbuilding at all. The only thing that Tory Members do is make irrelevant and mischievous comments, as typified by the hon. Gentleman's latest intervention. All those who work in the industry are fed to the teeth with Tory Members' silly little procedural games.

Several Hon. Members rose

—

Mr. Speaker

We shall be debating this matter tomorrow.