§ 25. Mr. Canavanasked the Lord Advocate whether he will make a statement about the effects on his Department of recent industrial action by court employees.
§ The Lord AdvocateSummary trials are proceeding in the district courts and normal trials in about a quarter of the 449 sheriff courts. No other prosecutions are proceeding at present. It is not possible to estimate how long these will be delayed.
§ Mr. CanavanWill my right hon. and learned Friend condemn yesterday's wild statements by the hon. and learned Member for Kinross and West Perthshire (Mr. Fairbairn), whose vicious attacks on the trade union movement could help to inflame the situation? Does my right hon. and learned Friend agree that the hon. and learned Member seems to forget that the court workers would probably return to work tomorrow if they received the same fat wage packet as the hon. and learned Member received through membership of that well known closed shop, the Faculty of Advocates?
§ The Lord AdvocateThe hon. and learned Member for Kinross and West Perthshire (Mr. Fairbairn) is not in his place. However, the colourful and intemperate language that he used yesterday did not contribute to a peaceful settlement of this industrial dispute. The hon. and learned Member sought to put the blame firmly on the Government. That was quite misplaced. To that extent I agree with my hon. Friend the Member for West Stirlingshire (Mr. Canavan). If any doctrine is responsible for the strike in the Scottish courts, it is the doctrine of free collective bargaining, which is different from the responsible collective bargaining in which the Government believe.
§ Mr. Teddy TaylorIs not the hon. Member for West Stirlingshire (Mr. Canavan) being outrageous? Does the Lord Advocate agree that the speech by my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Kinross and West Perthshire (Mr. Fairbairn) was one of the best that we have heard in the Commons? It resulted in the Government taking action which they should have taken a fortnight ago. Does the Lord Advocate agree that part of the major problem in industrial relations is that the Government do not use common sense and reason but resort only to the misuse of irresponsible power?
§ The Lord AdvocateThe hon. Member is being indignant. I do not agree with him. If he feels so strongly about this matter he should have arranged to take part in the debate yesterday.