HL Deb 13 November 1979 vol 402 cc1090-1

2.39 p.m.

Baroness VICKERS

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 what action is being taken to get normal work resumed in Her Majesty's Royal Dockyards.

The MINISTER of STATE, MINISTRY of DEFENCE(Lord Strathcona and Mount Royal)

My Lords, the major interruptions in recent months to normal working in the Royal Dockyards resulted mainly from industrial action in pursuit of national pay claims. Now that the claim in respect of the Professional and Technology Group has gone to arbitration and other claims have been settled, these major interruptions have ceased. There continues to be a number of local disputes, in particular relating to the refitting of nuclear submarines at Devonport.

Baroness VICKERS

My Lords, while thanking my noble friend for that reply, may I ask him to consider the following: General managers of the dockyard should have powers delegated to them so that they do not have to take orders from Bath and London. Would he also consider giving powers to them to run the dockyards like a managing director of a private sector enterprise? Will he look into the question of salaries and wages to see that they are competitive with outside industry and that the four yards have the same system?

Lord STRATHCONA and MOUNT ROYAL

My Lords, I should, first, remind my noble friend that a study group is in existence under the chairmanship of the Minister for the Navy, and the question of delegated powers will undoubtedly be a matter which the study group will be investigating. I agree with my noble friend that the delegation of powers is a desirable objective, but, for example in respect of pay, it is very far from simple when the present system, which is not easy to alter, involves another Civil Service department in pay negotiations.

Baroness VICKERS

My Lords, while thanking my noble friend for that further reply, may I ask whether he is aware that I happen to have with me the Answer to a Question which I asked in 1956 which contains exactly the same comment as in the latter part of his answer today? Does he think that perhaps we could make a little progress now?

Lord STRATHCONA and MOUNT ROYAL

My Lords, I assure my noble friend that we shall be doing our best in the next few months and hope to report in the spring.