HC Deb 19 July 1977 vol 935 c1394
Mr. Litterick

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 current developments in the dispute between members of the National Union of Public Employees employed in the hospital service in Birmingham and the hospital service management. The core of the matter is the management's refusal to implement the recommendation of an industrial tribunal that an unfairly dismissed employee should be reinstated. Industrial sanctions have already been selectively imposed, and my information is that further sanctions are planned to embrace the entire hospital service of the whole area. I do not think that I need labour the implications. It seems clear to me that if there is not some form of external intervention in the very near future all the hospital services of the City of Birmingham will be endangered by what seems on the face of it to be an intransigent attitude by the management.

Mr. Deputy Speaker (Mr. Oscar Murton)

The hon. Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Mr. Litterick) 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 current developments in the dispute between members of the National Union of Public Employees employed in the hospital service in Birmingham and the hospital service management. As the House knows, under Standing Order No. 9 I am directed to take account of the several factors set out in the Order, but to give no reason for my decision.

I have given careful consideration to the representations that the hon. Gentleman 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.