HL Deb 07 February 1967 vol 279 cc1241-3

2.43 p.m.

BARONESS EMMET OF AMBERLEY

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many discharge notices had been served in Malta by February 1 on Defence civilian employees, uniformed Royal Malta Artillery, and locally entered Royal Air Force and Navy.]

THE MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO (LORD SHACKLETON)

My Lords, I assume the question relates to discharge notices arising from the run-down proposals which have recently been discussed with the Government of Malta. No such discharge notices have been served. Notice of discharge was given to 27 civilian employees on January 31 in connection with the planned disbandment of No.38 Royal Air Force Squadron of Shackleton aircraft. As announced last November, however, this disbandment had been under consideration for a long time and was not one of the Defence Review economies. Discharges are still being made under the run-down of Royal Naval facilities begun in 1963.

BARONESS EMMET OF AMBERLEY

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for that Answer, which I hope shows that nothing is being done in a great hurry, and that time is being given for second thoughts on the whole situation.

LORD THURLOW

My Lords, could the noble Lord tell us whether there is likely to be a Statement on the run-down in Malta, in view of the considerable amount of public anxiety in this country and in Malta?

LORD SHACKLETON

My Lords, there seems to have been an endless series of Statements. Nor should I like to accept the implication of the noble Lady's supplementary question, although no doubt it commands considerable sympathy. I think there is nothing to add to the Statements that have been made by my noble friend Lord Beswick and others with regard to the totals involved, which are considerably less than those who have been discharged over the last few years under steps announced and carried through by the previous Administration.

Lord CARRINGTON

My Lords, does that mean that the noble Lord and the Government are not going to make any further approach to the Maltese Government, but are going to leave matters as they are to-day?

Lord SHACKLETON

My Lords, I do not see that that really arises out of the Question, which was: how many discharges have taken place? If the noble Lord wishes to pursue this by means of a debate or otherwise, no doubt the Government will give a considered reply.

Lord CARRINGTON

My Lords, it arises out of the noble Lord's answer to the supplementary question, when he said that they were not going to make any further Statement. I asked if that was so.

Lord SHACKLETON

My Lords, if the noble Lord will look to-morrow at what I said, I think he will see that I did not make any specific statement. What I said was that there had been many Statements. It just shows the danger of any Minister trying to be helpful to your Lordships by going beyond the scope of the Question originally asked.

Lord CARRINGTON

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that I do not think he has been at all helpful?

The Earl of MANSFIELD

My Lords, would Her Majesty's Government make an endeavour to give the largest possible notice to persons of all categories whom they propose to discharge so as to mitigate a little the exceptionally shabby treatment now being meted out to Malta?

Lord SHACKLETON

I am sorry, but I did not hear the noble Earl's question.

The Earl of MANSFIELD

My Lords, what I asked was whether the Government would endeavour to give the largest possible notice to those whom they intend to discharge in order to mitigate somewhat the severity of the exceptionally shabby treatment now being meted out to Malta.

Lord SHACKLETON

My Lords, I did gather the latter part of the noble Earl's question. He has improved on it. This is governed by agreement, and there are fully considered and established redundancy procedures.

BARONESS EMMET OF AMBERLEY

My Lords, is the Minister aware that I am very satisfied with his Answer at the present moment? As the whole essence of this matter of Malta is a question of time, I hope that this will help towards dispelling any fears that immediate steps are going to be taken.

SEVERAL NOBLE LORDS: Order!

LORD SHACKLETON

My Lords, I appreciate the noble Lady's supplementary question.