HC Deb 18 October 1989 vol 158 cc129-31
4. Mr. Ron Brown

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many official meetings he has had with trade union leaders since assuming his present office.

Mr. Rifkind

I meet representatives of the trade union movement from time to time on a range of issues. I am meeting the general council of the Scottish Trades Union Congress on 10 November to discuss matters affecting the Scottish economy.

Mr. Brown

Since some 8,000 or more jobs in Scotland are on the line simply because Ferranti is at risk from a takeover bid, is it not vital that the Secretary of State has a special meeting with the union leaders representing that company's workers? Will the Government act as guarantor for the company's independence and see off the predators? That is what the people of Scotland and my constituents in particular want.

Mr. Rifkind

I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on his reselection, which has given great pleasure to all Conservative Members.

I am conscious of the problems facing Ferranti, which is an exceptionally important company for Scotland and for Edinburgh in particular. The company has not asked the Government to act as a guarantor, nor would that be appropriate, as I am sure the hon. Gentleman knows. The Ministry of Defence put out a helpful statement showing the importance that it continues to attach to Ferranti and to its relationships with Ferranti and we look forward to the internal problems that that company has faced being resolved in the near future.

Mr. Kennedy

Has the Secretary of State had any communication with the management of Aberdeen Journals Ltd. on its dispute with members of the National Union of Journalists? Does he have any comment to pass on what appear to be the reasonable grounds that those NUJ members, both dismissed and still working, have for alleging apparent victimisation in the course of the dispute? Would not management be well advised to adopt a less intransigent attitude in the dispute and to agree to round table talks under the auspices of the Advisory. Conciliation and Arbitration Service, or some other suitable third party, to resolve this most unfortunate industrial dispute?

Mr. Rifkind

Naturally, we all regret industrial disputes, but it is not appropriate to expect Ministers to express any view on what is essentially a matter for management and unions to resolve. We hope that they will succeed in doing so, but no comment in this Chamber would be likely to help.

Mr. Canavan

Is the Secretary of State aware that some of Scotland's trade union leaders were in Falkirk yesterday for the counting of the votes of the Royal Scottish National hospital work force ballot on the hospital's management's proposals for the hospital to opt out of existing arrangements within the NHS? Since 95 per cent. of the work force gave a resounding vote of no confidence in the hospital management's proposals, will the Secretary of State instruct the Forth Valley health board and the hospital management to abandon the disastrous proposals which are an attack on the rights of the 800 mentally handicapped patients at the hospital?

Mr. Rifkind

I appreciate that the Labour party has been disappointed by the growing interest in various parts of Scotland in the opportunities for greater autonomy for hospitals and group practices. We are at an early stage in such matters, but the views of all concerned in the proposals will be of interest. At this stage we look forward to hearing from the various parts of Scotland interested in developing opportunities for greater autonomy for hospitals and group practices and the other opportunities outlined in our NHS proposals.