MONKLANDS DISTRICT COUNCIL AND THE CONDUCT OF THE HONOURABLE MEMBER FOR MONKLANDS;WEST

That this House expresses concern at the nepotistic recruitment procedures of Monklands District Council; notes that at least 40 relatives of councillors have jobs with the Council, and that the ruling clique has used mafia-style tactics to silence those who attempt to expose council corruption; believes that the latest example of sharp practice is the sacking of Mr Tom McFarlane, a former supervisory depot foreman, who lost his job despite a council policy of 'no compulsory redundancies', was not given information about alternative posts, and received his redundancy notice by hand on a Saturday morning from the Director of Leisure and Recreation; notes that the key meeting to decide the sacking was taken behind closed doors and no minutes of this meeting were taken; further notes that the tape recording produced in evidence in Mr McFarlane's industrial tribunal demonstrates that anyone who speaks out against the local Labour party is a 'naughty boy' and might reasonably be expected to consider their position; and calls upon the honourable Member for Monklands West to make a statement as to whether he recognises these practices as council employment policy, given his considerable knowledge as provost of Monklands between 1977 and 1982.