§ Mr. ThorneI 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 decision of the textile union to call a one-day national stoppage which stems from the contraction in the industry because of closures in the Lancashire textile mills.I am somewhat hesitant, Mr. Speaker, to raise this matter as a point of urgency in view of yesterday's exchanges. Possibly, Sir, you will have seen the announcement on the "tape" earlier today that there is to be a one-day national strike of textile workers arising from the contraction in that industry as a result of which some 60,000 workers have been placed on short-time working and a further 2,500 workers have already lost their jobs this year.I understand that in seeking to move the Adjournment of the House under Standing Order No. 9 I must establish that the matter is specific, important and urgent. The urgency of the matter is fairly clear from what I have already said. This matter involves the problem of employment and the effect which redundancies will have on families in the Lancashire area. That the matter is specific to the textile industry again is obvious from what I have said. Furthermore, it will also be obvious from what I have said that this matter is extremely important to those concerned, and indeed nationally.
I have already said that there is to be a national one-day stoppage. The workers have been forced to take this action and, therefore, there is a need for an immediate Government initiative to overcome the problem of rising unemployment in the textile industry in Lancashire. Against that background, Mr. Speaker, I request that I may move the Adjournment of the House in order that the matter may be considered.
§ Mr. SpeakerI am grateful to the hon. Member for Preston, South (Mr. Thorne) for having given me notice of this matter. He is seeking to obtain 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 decision of the textile union to call a one-day national stoppage which stems from the contraction in the industry because of closures in the Lancashire textile mills.I have great sympathy with the hon. Gentleman over the importance of this matter. My decision does not bear at all on the merits of his application but simply on whether I should disrupt the prearranged business of the House. I hope that other ways may be found for the hon. Gentleman to pursue the matter. I am sorry that I cannot allow him to do so under the Standing Order No. 9 procedure.