HC Deb 13 December 1978 vol 960 cc632-4
3. Mr. Gordon Wilson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a further statement on the impact of the careers officers' dispute on the youth opportunities programme and engineering training services sponsorship scheme in Tayside.

The Minister of State, Scottish Office (Mr. Gregor MacKenzie)

I cannot usefully add to what I told the hon. Member on 15th November. The Government remain very concerned at the effects of this dispute upon young people in Tayside.

Mr. Wilson

Does the Minister realise that this dispute has been running for some five months and that with the arrival of the Christmas school leaving date a large number of school leavers will be thrown into unemployment because of a lack of facilities under the youth opportunities scheme? Will he either persuade the parties concerned to arbitrate on the issue or intervene to secure a national review of the careers service so that a solution can be found to the situation on Tayside?

Mr. MacKenzie

I am bound to say to the hon. Gentleman that in all conscience I do not feel that comments by Ministers from the Dispatch Box during an industrial dispute are terribly helpful. It is something that genuinely worries me, the more so since, as the hon. Gentleman said, the Christmas school leaving date is approaching. However, ACAS is working on this dispute, and if it is thought that either myself or my right hon. Friend can be of any value in doing something about it we shall certainly be prepared to offer our services.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that as well as training opportunities there must also be employment opportunities for those who have trained? Is he aware that in Brechin, in my constituency in Tayside, the Matrix Engineering firm has already declared over 20 people redundant and that another 40 are in the process of being made redundant? Will he do what he can to make sure that we have a viable engineering industry in Tayside to take advantage of these facilities?

Mr. MacKenzie

Yes, I certainly shall. The hon. Gentleman was kind enough to talk to me about this matter some time ago. I have asked my Department to look at the Matrix situation. If there is any scheme which can be put forward to me which will make the project more viable and provide extra jobs in the area, my right hon. Friend and myself will consider it.

Mr. Teddy Taylor

In view of what the Minister said about the seriousness of this problem and the length of the dispute, does he appreciate that complex problems of regrading are involved, and that there appears to be doubt in the minds of the council as to exactly what is permitted in regrading under pay policy and what will be permitted for reckonable expenditure for rate support grant purposes? Will the Minister be willing to get in touch with the council to make sure that any questions of doubt are removed and to make it clear publicly that if an initiative by himself or the Secretary of State would be helpful at this stage he would be willing to take it speedily?

Mr. MacKenzie

I think that, in the first instance, as I said a few moments ago, the sensible thing is to allow ACAS to proceed with this matter as well as it can, and it is doing that. But if there are any further initiatives which will bring an end to this very sad and sorry tale, I shall certainly be prepared to consider them.

Mr. Welsh

Is the Minister aware that Tayside regional councillors have refused to meet the striking careers officers or the unions in order to resolve this long-running strike and that that had led to a collapse of the youth oportunities programme? Will he, therefore, do everything in his power to try to get the parties together as quickly as possible in order to help these youngsters?

Mr. MacKenzie

There is one thing that it has not stopped. It has not stopped people offering to make these opportunities available. Because of the careers officers dispute it is difficult to find young people to take up these opportunities. But, as I said earlier, I think that in the meantime the sensible thing is to leave the matter to ACAS. If it is thought that any intervention on my part would be helpful, I should certainly consider that.