HC Deb 10 December 1985 vol 88 c892

1.5 am

Mr. Michael J. Martin (Glasgow, Springburn)

I have a petition to present compiled by the people of Scotland which contains 54,000 signatures and which the Serjeant at Arms has been good enough to keep safely for me.

The history of the petition is that recently British Rail Engineering Limited, Springburn has proposed to run down the only railway workshop left in Scotland. There used to be four such workshops in my constituency, and at one time it was the railway engineering centre of the world. Now the work force is reduced to 1,500 workers, and if BREL gets its way, it will run down the work force to 400. In some parts of my constituency unemployment is running at about 40 per cent., and it is high among young people under the age of 21. Therefore, the Scottish people feel that something should be done to persuade British Rail, which is the core owner of BREL, to reverse the decision.

I abhor the attitude of Mr. Robert Reid, chairman of British Rail, who wrote to me saying that he is not prepared to meet me and my colleagues to discuss redundancies but only to discuss new ways to attract industries into Springburn after the redundancies take place. It is ridiculous that the chairman of a nationalised industry should deny an hon. Member the right to represent his constituents. It is traditional for people to turn to a Member for Parliament when redundancies are announced. Every facility is provided by Ministers; and, indeed, the Prime Minister is on record as saying that she is willing to meet hon. Members regarding closures and that she has put her Ministers at their disposal. It is scandalous that a servant of the nation should rebuff a Member of Parliament in this way. I hope that the Secretary of State for Transport reads my words in Hansard and takes action to help me do what I am entitled to do —to represent my community.

The petition reads To the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled. The Humble Petition of the People of Scotland showeth That the present run down of British Rail Engineering Ltd., Glasgow Works in the constituency of Glasgow Springburn would lead to the closure of the only main workshop in Scotland. Wherefore your Petitioners pray that your honourable House do all in its power to urge the management of British Rail to retain this very valuable asset in Scotland. And your Petitioners as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c.

To lie upon the Table.