§ Mr. Raphael TuckI beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House under Standing Order No. 9 to discuss a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration, namely,
the proposed imminent cut by British Rail of 40 per cent. of rail traffic during peak hours".About a month ago I had suspicions that a cut was about to take place in the services of the Watford-Euston DC line and I have had heated correspondence about it both with British Rail and with 1770 my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. Now there has been a general leak.I refer you, Mr. Speaker, to Early-Day Motion No. 719, signed by 44 of my hon. Friends, which looks with alarm at British Rail's proposals. The matter is specific in limine. It is important because, quite apart from the loss of jobs the cuts will entail, the rail services are already heavily used and overcrowded and, if the cuts are made, it will be necessary to push the passengers into the trains with bulldozers.
§ Mr. SpeakerI am grateful to the hon. Member for giving me notice of the application and for sending me a copy of what he intended to say.
I have considered the matter carefully, and also listened to the exchanges which took place today. Without doubt, this is an important matter, but the hon. Member must find other ways of pursuing it in the House. I am sorry, I cannot grant the application under Standing Order No. 9.