§ Mrs. ChalkerOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. 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 which should have urgent consideration, namely:
the alarming increase in today's unemployment figures.Both sides of the House have registered shock and dismay at the 0.6 per cent. overall increase, but above all we register most dismay at the 41.2 per cent. increase in unemployment amongst school leavers.This state of affairs can only reveal the total lack of control over unemployment and the economic situation by the Government. Behind every one of the 1,463,456 unemployed, there is a story of untold misery, and behind every one of the 209,037 unemployed school leavers there is the start of a spiral which this Government know, or seem to know, no way of halting. In my opinion, the storm raging outside now will be nothing compared with the storm that the country will raise if we do not discuss and put right the situation that besets us. I hope that the House will agree to deal with this urgent matter under Standing Order No. 9.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Member for Wallasey (Mrs. Chalker) seeks leave to move the Adjournment of the House, under Standing Order No. 9, in order to discuss a specific and important matter that she thinks should have urgent consideration, namely:
the alarming increase in today's unemployment figures.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 reason for my decision. I have given careful consideration to the representations which the hon. Lady has made, but I have to rule that her submission does not fall within the provisions of the Standing Order, and therefore I cannot submit her application to the House.