HC Deb 13 October 1975 vol 897 cc863-4
Mr. Penhaligon

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 deterioration of the National Health Service on several fronts. Doctors are on strike in Plymouth, and there are serious threats that this will extend to Sheffield, Leicester, Scunthorpe and Norwich. I am concerned that the assurances given by the doctors at Plymouth are still not sufficient, and the House should be concerned about whether people's lives are in danger.

On another front doctors are voting with their feet and are moving to pastures new. This is not due simply to the pay bed dispute, because many of these doctors are in specialties which have no private practice considerations.

Many hon. Members will agree that one of the prime functions of the House is to guard the health of the people. I therefore believe that it is essential that time should be found for us to debate a way of stopping this situation in Plymouth spreading to some of the other places which I have mentioned.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member gave me notice of his intention to raise this matter. He raises a very serious matter, and those in charge of the business of the House will no doubt pay attention to what he said. The question for me is simply whether I should allow a debate to be held today or tomorrow. In view of the business before the House, the answer must be "No".

Later—

Mr. Onslow

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Reverting to the point of order raised by the hon. Member for Truro, (Mr. Penhaligon), will you clarify your ruling? You said that, because of the nature of the business before the House today and tomorrow, it was not possible for you to rule that the matter the hon. Gentleman raised should be given precedence, although you said—I think that the whole House would agree—that the matter is one of great importance to the country as a whole. Can you tell us what there is about the business before the House today and tomorrow which is so important that it must have such priority?

Mr. Speaker

No. Under the Standing Order I am not allowed to give my reasons. The decision always is whether I shall disrupt the business of the day or the following day. Therefore, the hon. Gentleman will get no more change out of me on that matter.