HC Deb 03 August 1976 vol 916 cc1471-3
Mr. Kinnock

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 statement of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment on measures to combat youth unemployment, particularly the novel proposal for encouraging early retirement among older workers. I apologise for the fact that due to circumstances which we both understand, Mr. Speaker, I was not able to give the customary early notice of my intention to move the Adjournment of the House. That is because of the sheer novelty of the proposal made by my right hon. Friend during his statement.

The matter is urgent, because this is effectively the last week in which we can discuss these problems. It is important, because of the enormous and record size of the problem, which my right hon. Friend concedes very readily, to which he is trying to make a constructive response. It is specific, because it is an absolutely novel proposal for introducing encouragement, which I would support, for older workers over 55 years to create further opportunities for young people as long as they get £60 a week. It is a proposal that we introduce, or consider introducing, as a structural answer to an immense and chronic structural problem, and as such it deserves something more than the statement that my right hon. Friend has been able to make.

The questions which you, in your wisdom, Mr. Speaker, decided to allow on my right hon. Friend's statement were many and varied. I therefore apply for the Adjournment of the House on a matter of urgent, important and specific concern.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member asks leave to move the Adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that he thinks should have urgent consideration, namely, The statement of the right hon. Gentleman the Secretary of State for Employment on measures to combat youth unemployment, particularly the novel proposal for encouraging early retirement among older workers. As the House knows, under Standing Order No. 9 I am directed to take into account the several factors set out in the Standing Order, but to give no reasons for my decision.

I have given careful consideration to the representations made by the hon. Gentleman, but I have to rule that his submission does not fall within the provisions of the Standing Order and, therefore, I cannot submit his application to the House.