HC Deb 24 May 1976 vol 912 cc29-30
Mr. Stokes

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 decision yesterday by the Executive of the National Union of Students to call on all student-teachers in England and Wales to occupy their colleges as a protest against unemployment among teachers. I submit that this is a specific matter because the National Union of Students made its call to all student-teachers yesterday, and although this organisation is not a trade union in the normal sense of the word, because students are not employees, there is no doubt that its call will have much the same effect as if an ordinary trade union had issued a strike notice.

It is an important matter because the rule of law is challenged, and if these occupations were to be ignored by Parliament we should be failing in our duty to uphold the law. Further, while the students are engaged in sitting-in, the taxpayers' money is being wasted, quite apart from the physical damage which may be caused as a result of the sit-ins. The numbers involved are very large, approaching, I am told, no fewer than 100,000.

Finally, I submit that the matter is urgent because occupations have already begun and are continuing.

I believe it important that this House should have an opportunity later this evening to debate this action by the NUS before matters grow any worse. I consider it a proper subject to be given priority over the British Transport Docks (Felixstowe) Bill, which is a highly contentious measure and disliked by the majority of people in this country.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member for Halesowen and Stourbridge (Mr. Stokes) asks 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 yesterday by the Executive of the National Union of Students to call on all student-teachers in England and Wales to occupy their colleges as a protest against unemployment among teachers. As the House knows—[Interruption]—under Standing Order No. 9, I am directed to take into account the several factors set out in the Order but to give no reasons for my decision. [Interruption.] Order. May I say that it is extremely discourteous to me, when I am addressing the House, for any hon. Member to interrupt.

I have given careful consideration to the representations that the hon. Member for Halesowen and Stourbridge has made, 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.