NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE WEDNESDAY 15 JANUARY 2003
STUC DEFENDS POST OF SCOTLAND SECRETARY
Commenting on news reports of proposals by Peers at Westminster, that the position of Secretary of State for Scotland and the Secretary of State for Wales should be merged in favour of a Secretary of State for the Regions, STUC General Secretary, Bill Speirs, said,
"In the course of the past four years the STUC, and the working people of Scotland that we represent, have had cause to be grateful for the existence of the office of Secretary of State for Scotland, and actions taken by the Ministers holding the post.
"To cite just two, I am in no doubt the intervention of Helen Liddell, as Secretary of State for Scotland, was absolutely vital when Chester Street Insurance Company collapsed, threatening total loss of compensation for thousands of victims of asbestos and other industrial illnesses. The deal which was done with the insurance industry was driven through by the Secretary of State for Scotland and will benefit not just Scottish victims of industrial illness and injury, but thousands of others throughout the UK.
"Secondly and more recently, Helen Liddell's intervention in the Argos case, where workers' livelihoods were threatened by an employer bent on imposing a unilateral change to their terms and conditions of employment, made a real difference. Her commitment now to support a change in the law to ensure that retail workers in Scotland can rely on the same protection at work as their English counterparts will impact positively on workers throughout the country.
"The Secretary of State for Scotland provides a vital voice for Scotland in Cabinet on policy matters reserved to Westminster. Next month Helen Liddell will facilitate a meeting between senior Scottish trade union officials and Scottish MPs of all political parties at Dover House, in London, about crucial issues facing employees in Scotland, including the future of pensions, Scotland's health and safety record and the law relating to employment relations.
"On the basis of the evidence to-date, I have no hesitation in saying that the position of a Secretary of State with sole responsibility for Scotland offers real benefits, and recognises the distinct position of Scotland as a nation within the United Kingdom."
Bill Speirs General Secretary