UPPER CLYDE SHIPBUILDERS (Hansard, 5 May 1969)

§ Miss Harvie Anderson
On a point of order. I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House, under Standing Order No. 9, for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration, namely, the failure of the Minister of Technology to give a decisive answer today"—

Hon. Members
Oh.

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. There is no need to intervene when an hon. Gentleman or an hon. Lady seeks to apply for leave under Standing Order No. 9.

§ Miss Harvie Anderson
—namely, the failure of the Minister of Technology to give a decisive answer today as to the amount and terms of support which he will give to Upper Clyde Shipbuilders. The matter is specific in that the money sought is required this week to fulfil the company's commitments for wages and essential materials. It is important in that the labour force—[Interruption.]

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I must protect the hon. Lady.

§ Miss Harvie Anderson
It is important in that the labour force is 13,500 strong and the men there have a right to know where their livelihood is to come from. It is urgent in that steel supplies, except on a cash basis, are already cut off and the delay of even one more day erodes such confidence and goodwill as remain and upon which future orders, themselves the life blood of the industry depend.

§ Mr. Speaker
The hon. Lady asks leave to move the Adjournment of the 51 House for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that she thinks should have urgent consideration, namely, the failure of the Minister of Technology to give a decisive answer today as to the amount and terms of support which he will give to Upper Clyde Shipbuilders. The hon. Lady was kind enough to give notice to me this morning that she might be seeking to raise this point of order.
As the House knows, under the revised Standing Order No. 9 Mr. Speaker is directed to take into account the several factors set out in the Order, but to give no reasons for his decision. I have given careful consideration to the representations which the hon. Lady has made, and I listened to the statement in question, but I have to rule that the hon. Lady's submission does not fall within the provisions of the revised Standing Order. I cannot, therefore, submit her application to the House.