§ 6. Mr. EadieTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he plans to meet the Scottish Trades Union Congress to discuss employment prospects in Scotland.
§ Mr. RifkindI am due to meet the general secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress and a number of his colleagues on 13 March.
§ Mr. EadieWhen Scottish Labour Members met the Secretary of State this morning to discuss the coal-burn 266 dispute and the South of Scotland Electricity Board, the right hon. and learned Gentleman made optimistic noises suggesting that the matter was likely to be resolved in the boardrooms rather than in the courts. As he is aware, the STUC is taking a lead in the issue because up to 6,000 jobs in Scotland could be lost if the deep-mining part of the coal industry were obliterated.
Is there any significance in the fact that the Secretary of State is meeting the STUC on 14 March, which is Budget day? Is there any significance in that? Shall we then hear an announcement of more employment prospects for the Scottish people?
§ Mr. RifkindThere is no significance in the date, as it is on 13 March and not 14 March that I am meeting the STUC. The meeting is taking place at the request of Mr. Campbell Christie, general secretary of the STUC, and I look forward with interest to hearing the points that he wishes to raise.
§ Mr. HindWhen my right hon. and learned Friend meets the general secretary of the STUC, will he point out that 16 major Japanese firms now in Scotland plan to create 2,500 jobs there? It was interesting to note that in the last quarter of 1988 4,160 new jobs were planned by a large number of firms in Scotland. Will my right hon. and learned Friend tell the general secretary that the reason for those jobs being planned is that Scotland is part of the United Kingdom and a member state of the EEC, and that any withdrawal from the United Kingdom would put the jobs in danger?
§ Mr. RifkindThere is no doubt that Scotland is seen as a prime location for inward investment by both the United States and Japan, and that that choice has been made because of the market that is available throughout the European Community for products manufactured in Scotland. [Interruption.]
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I should point out to the hon. Member for Dunfermline, West (Mr. Douglas), who is shouting at me—which in any case is unmannerly—that he reserves the right to be called at Defence Question Time and on other questions as well.
§ Mr. Norman HoggWhen the Secretary of State meets the general secretary of the STUC, will he discuss his concept of—[Interruption.]
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The whole House is interested in Scotland.
§ Mr. DouglasThis is a farce.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Will the hon. Gentleman contain himself, please?
§ Mr. DouglasIt is a farce, and you know it.
§ Mr. HindOn a point of order Mr. Speaker. It is bad manners of the hon. Member for Dunfermline, West (Mr. Douglas) to insult Conservative Members such as myself who are interested in Scotland and take the trouble to attend Scottish Question Time.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I do not believe that the hon. Gentleman has been insulted; if anyone has been insulted it is me.
§ Mr. HoggI think that I have forgotten my question—[Laughter.] When the Secretary of State meets the 267 general council of the Scottish Trades Union Congress will he try to explain his concept of competition by comparison with the electricity supply industry? Does he believe that that council is likely to agree with me that that is as daft a concept as an independent Scotland in Europe?
§ Mr. RifkindI am rather sorry that the hon. Gentleman remembered his question. It is clearly desirable in any system of near monopoly that the industry in question should he exposed to comparisons, which enable the consumer and the regulator in the public interest to be satisfied that either the tariffs being levied or other practices of the industry are fair and acceptable in the circumstances.