HC Deb 27 February 1985 vol 74 cc318-9
4. Mr. Lofthouse

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met the general secretary of the Trades Union Congress; and what matters were discussed.

Mr. Tebbit

I met Trades Union Congress leaders, including the general secretary, on 12 March 1984 when the subjects discussed included industrial restructuring, Government support for research and development and regional policy, as well as industrial policy in the European Community.

Mr. Lofthouse

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that it is time that he met the general secretary of the TUC again? If he did, would he be able to explain why he has no plans to encourage jobs in mining communities, which, by their policies, the Government are out to destroy? Would he be able to tell him what hope exists for youngsters in areas such as mine, where 42 per cent. of all 25-year-olds are out of work? Would he be able to tell him what the prospects are for young miners whose only crime has been to have been on strike, to have pilfered morsels of coal and to have lost their jobs?

Mr. Tebbit

I am sure that if the TUC general secretary wishes to come and discuss those matters with me, he will get in touch with me. He has not yet done so, no doubt because he has been too busy trying to talk some sense into such an obdurate man as Mr. Scargill.

Mr. Hickmet

If my right hon. Friend has a further meeting with the leadership of the TUC, as he has been invited to do, will he invite Mr. Willis to try to talk some sense into the leaders of the railway unions so that the railways can start moving ore and steel into the steelworks of Britain, a situation, which is continuing to cost the British Steel Corporation about £3.5 million a week? What effect does he think that this continuing policy will have on railwaymen's jobs?

Mr. Tebbit

It is clear that if the policy that has been pursued by some railwaymen of blacking coal trains were to continue, it would have a serious effect on the jobs of railwaymen and the finances of British Rail. It would probably be best, therefore, for the railwaymen whose jobs are being put at risk to have a word with their union leaders and put those leaders straight and remind them that their jobs are at risk unless they do what is in the interest of the membership.

Mr. Robert C. Brown

When the TUC met the Secretary of State and discussed regional policy, did it raise with him the proposal being studied by the Minister of State to reduce the grant-in-aid to the North of England Development Ccouncil by up to 30 per cent.? In view of the ever worsening employment figures in the north of England, does he not think that instead of reducing the grant he should increase it to allow for an additional promotional effort? Is it not high time he said to the Minister of State, "Knock it off, Norman, it is not on"?

Mr. Tebbit

I suppose that is something which could be said both ways these days between the general secretary and me — I do not know. The general secretary would indeed have had to be endowed with great gifts of prophecy had he raised the matter on 12 March 1984. In regard to the merits of the issue, if the general secretary wants to come and talk to me about the matter, he is free to ask to do so. Of course, what the hon. Gentleman should remember is that the amounts of money which have been made available for the purposes of which he speaks have been increased.