HC Deb 14 November 1977 vol 939 cc31-2
Mr. Sillars

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 grave threat to public safety and the future of the Fire Service now that firemen are on strike. When I put this matter to you in a somewhat different form, Mr. Speaker, last Wednesday, you rejected the application, but added the words "at this stage".

The argument which I put last Wednesday about the specific nature of the issue and its importance and urgency remains valid. I shall not take the time of the House by repeating that case. However, there is a vital change: the firemen are now on strike. The Government have honestly and openly acknowledged that the Armed Services are not providing adequate fire cover. The population and industrial establishment are now totally exposed to risk. The morale and future effectiveness of the Fire Service are also now at risk. I submit that we have reached the stage when this House must debate the unprecedented event of a national firemen's strike, with all that that implies for loss of life.

I understand that my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Walton (Mr. Heffer) would also like to move the Adjournment of the House on this subject, which is an indication of the growing concern.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member gave me notice this morning before 12 o'clock that he wished to move, under Standing Order No. 9, the Adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, the grave threat to public safety and the future of the Fire Service now that firemen are on strike. Last week, the hon. Gentleman made a similar application when the strike was a threatened strike. I am satisfied that the matter raised by the hon. Member is proper to be discussed under Standing Order No. 9. Has the hon. Gentleman the leave of the House?

The leave of the House having been given—

Mr. Speaker

The Motion for the Adjournment of the House will now stand over until the commencement of public business tomorrow, when a debate on the matter will take place for three hours.