HC Deb 29 January 1986 vol 90 cc932-3
2. Mr. Martin

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will receive a delegation from the work force at British Rail Engineering Limited, Springburn, to discuss compulsory redundancies at the workshops; and if he will make a statement.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Michael Ancram)

I understand that my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of Transport, is to meet the hon. Member shortly on this subject. Accordingly, no additional meeting is felt to be necessary.

Mr. Martin

Is the Minister aware that this is the first time in the history of BREL that there have been compulsory redundancies? He knows that Springburn is the only remaining railway workshop in Scotland. Although I shall be meeting the Minister of State, Department of Transport, it is important that the Scottish Office gets involved in this serious problem. The Government claim that they want a return to an industrialised society and to increase industry in Scotland. We must therefore have an efficient railway system. Will the Minister meet the delegation?

Mr. Ancram

The hon. Gentleman is aware that the future of the works is a matter for the commercial judgment of the British Railways Board and BREL. It is for the board to take account of the need to provide adequate repair and maintenance capacity to meet current and future needs.

As for the effect on the area and the role of the Scottish Office, I can say that we stand ready to deal with any selective financial assistance or regional development grant proposals for projects in the area.

Mr. Pollock

If the Dornoch firth railway bridge project went ahead, might it not provide further job opportunities for the BREL work force at Springburn?

Mr. Ancram

That is still a matter for the British Railways Board to consider. The board and BREL are considering future as well as present requirements and will take account of that when making a decision.

Mr. Dewar

Does the Minister agree that the Springburn works have a long record of excellence in the railway industry and that the threatened loss of 1,100 jobs in an area of high unemployment is something about which the Scottish Office must be deeply worried, especially as a new crisis has blown up with the recently announced reorganisation of rail workshops which relegates Glasgow to maintenance—very much the second league? Will he use his influence and have positive discussions with his colleagues in the Department of Transport and with the British Railways Board, because our fear is that, once again, the Scottish Office will end up being nothing more than a spectator at the funeral?

Mr. Ancram

The hon. Gentleman mentioned the recently announced reorganisation. British Rail has made it clear that more work is needed to determine the effect of its proposals on the work load. At this stage, the board has decided only its general principles. The level of staffing required at Springburn to enable it to fulfil its new role will be a matter for the board to determine in due course.

Back to