HC Deb 14 October 1969 vol 788 cc219-20
Mr. Raphael Tuck

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 public consideration, namely, the impending closure of the Handley Page factory in Hertfordshire". This matter is specific because 500 men have just received redundancy notices and a further 4,200 are due to receive them. It is important for three reasons. The first concerns the defence of the Realm. Our whole fleet of Victor bombers was built by Handley Page and it is a requirement of the Royal Air Force that these bombers be converted into tanker aircraft. The development work on this is lodged with Handley Page and if the factory were closed down and the work given to another company, the cost to public funds would be much greater—about an extra £10 million.

It is also important for the export potential. Jetstream aircraft are being built, many of them for the United States, possibly to the value of about£100 million. If the firm closed down, we would, therefore, lose dollar exports.

Thirdly, it is important because, if this factory is closed down, the men will be redundant, and redundancy payments will fall on the Government to the tune of about £1½ million. It is urgent because, unless the Government step in and save the company, the results which I have outlined will ensue and, in my submission, Parliament should be given the opportunity, before the axe falls, of discussing this issue.

The factory is just over the borders of Watford in the constituency of the hon. Member for Hertfordshire, South-West (Mr. Longden), but he is at present in the United States. I have, as a matter of courtesy, mentioned the matter to the Opposition Chief Whip, who has considered it and who understands my reasons for bringing the matter forward urgently.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Gentleman the Member for Watford (Mr. Raphael Tuck) was courteous enough to inform me that he would make an application under Standing Order No. 9. The hon. Gentleman asks leave to move the Adjournment of the House under Standing Order No. 9 for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that he thinks should have urgent consideration, namely, the impending closure of the Handley Page factory in Hertfordshire". As the House knows, under revised Standing Order No. 9, Mr. Speaker is directed to take into account the several factors set out in the Standing Order, but to give no reasons for his decision.

I have listened carefully to what the hon. Member has said, but I have to rule that his submission does not fall within the provisions of the revised Standing Order, and, therefore, I cannot submit his application to the House.