Steel Industry (Hansard, 29 January 1986)

§ 4. Mr. Tom Clarke
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next expects to meet the Scottish representative of the Iron and Steel Trades Confederation to discuss the future of Gartcosh and Ravenscraig and the implications for the Scottish economy.

§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Allan Stewart)
My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State met representatives of the Iron and Steel Trades Confederation, including its Scottish representative, on 20 January. He also met representatives of the STUC, including the assistant general secretary of the ISTC, on 23 January. There are no plans for a further meeting.

§ Mr. Clarke
Does the Minister accept that that was more than the Prime Minister did when the men marched more than 500 miles to state their case? Will he join me in paying tribute to the dignity and commitment of the workers of Gartcosh, especially in recent weeks? Will he respond to their demand that the plant should be retained on a care and maintenance basis and not canabalised, in view of the promised upturn in our country's economic fortunes?

§ Mr. Stewart
Hon. Members on boh sides of the House have the highest respect for the Scottish steelworkers. The Prime Minister was unable to see the marchers at the time that they had requested. My hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry wrote to the marchers explaining the position. He offered a meeting either with himself or with my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

§ Mr. Allen Adams
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. While we are discussing a matter as important as Gartcosh, is it not a contempt of the House for Conservative Members to be lying down? Will you remind—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I call Mr. Fletcher.

§ Mr. Fletcher
Will my hon. Friend take the earliest opportunity to make it clear to the British Steel Corporation that, while he has accepted its advice that the closure of Gartcosh will not prejudice the future of Ravenscraig, he will not accept similar advice from the BSC if it proposes to close any other significant steelworks in Scotland?

§ Mr. Stewart
The Government have consistently made it clear that any question about Ravenscraig is a strategic matter involving the Government. I have no reason to doubt that there is no question mark over the future of Dalzell.

§ Mr. George Robertson
Has the Minister's new boss yet told him whether he, like his predecessor, is willing to threaten to resign if there is any possibility of the Government and the British Steel Corporation closing Ravenscraig?

§ Mr. Stewart
What has become important about the long debate over the Scottish steel industry in recent months is the clear implication and unambiguous statement from the British Steel Corporation that it does not believe that the closure of Gartcosh in any way affects the viability or will determine the future of Ravenscraig. The Government's commitment to Ravenscraig is clear.

§ Mr. Bill Walker
When my hon. Friend next meets ISTC representatives, will he draw their attention to the fact that if more of them bought British cars that would more effectively ensure the survival of Ravenscraig, and that if more of them supported the Trident programme that would also affect the BSC?

§ Mr. Stewart
My hon. Friend's points, especially in relation to Trident, are well made.

§ Dr. Bray
Will the Minister advise his new colleague, the Secretary of State, not to rush into a decision about the moth-balling or maintenance in working order of Gartcosh until he has had time properly to examine the evidence? He did not have time to examine the evidence before taking a decision on Gartcosh, but its maintenence in working order is a different matter.

§ Mr. Stewart
I assure the hon. Gentleman that my right hon. and learned Friend fully briefed himself from all the papers about that matter. He is arranging to meet the chairman and chairman elect of BSC.

§ Mr. Henderson
Does my hon. Friend agree with the ISTC that Ravenscraig is of strategic importance to the Scottish economy? No good is done to that by continually suggesting that the future of Ravenscraig is dependent on Gartcosh. Does he also agree that the wholly unparliamentary demonstration after the meeting of the Scottish Grand Committee in Edinburgh on 20 January will do no good to the cause of Scottish steel and shows a curious sense of priorities when many more of our constituents work and are involved in higher education than ever worked at Gartcosh?

§ Mr. Stewart
I thought that the debate on higher education in which my hon. Friend took part was a good one. I was not there for the subsequent demonstration to which he referred. There is a serious danger of talking down the future of the Scottish steel industry. I hope that no Opposition Members will fall into that trap.

§ Mr. Dewar
Whatever disagreements there may be on the link between Gartcosh and Ravenscraig, does the Minister accept that there is an important continuing role for the Dalzell plate mill and that it is essential for Ravenscraig's future? He said a few minutes ago that he knew of no plans to close it. Is he aware that there are strong rumours—apparently based on information reaching the trade union side—that there is such a plan? Has he investigated that possibility? Can he give a positive assurance that there is no threat to the future of Dalzell? I ask him to be specific on this. Will he make it clear that any plans to close Dalzell will require political and Cabinet approval and will not be left in the hands of the BSC management as some kind of tactical decision.

§ Mr. Stewart
I have no reason to doubt Dalzell's future. As the House is aware, it serves the offshore industry. There has been scaremongering, and I do not think that that is in anyone's interest.