Mr. Bob BrownI 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 shamefully high unemployment figures announced at noon today by the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity".I submit that this matter is cruelly specific since 970,022 people are today without work. This is the highest total for generations and is a totally immoral figure. It is immensely important for many thousands of my own constituents who face a bleak Christmas, short of money, and becoming increasingly more so as prices race ahead. Therefore, this matter should have the urgent consideration of this House. Yesterday we discussed the misery of the Ulster people and I submit that much of the trouble there stems from the figure I have just mentioned.Finally, Mr. Speaker, I urge you to allow a debate since the last time unemployment was debated in this Chamber, owing to the disgraceful conduct of the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the House we had no reply whatever about what the Government intended to do on this urgent matter. This House and the country at large have a right to a full statement from the Government, and I seek to get it by moving the Adjournment of the House.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, West (Mr. Bob 636 Brown) asks leave to move the Adjournment of the House under Standing Order No. 9, for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter which he thinks should have urgent consideration, namely,
the shamefully high unemployment figures announced at noon today by the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity".I am grateful to the hon. Member for having given me notice early this morning of his intention to make this application. I have carefully considered the matter and have listened to the exchanges on this subject which took place after the business statement a little earlier today. This is only a procedural decision by Mr. Speaker and in no way reflects on the hon. Member's sincerity or on the merits of the matter. I am afraid I cannot give the application precedence today.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I would not wish to challenge your Ruling, but in view of the gravity of this problem and since the Leader of the House gave me an assurance that if the Government had measures to propose they would bring them before the House, which I regard as totally inadequate—we do not doubt they would do this if they had measures, but what we are doubtful about is whether, as in the past year, they will allow the situation to drift—I beg to give notice that the Opposition will this evening put down a Motion of censure on the subject of unemployment, which I trust will be debated at an early stage.