CIVIL SERVICE (Hansard, 2 April 1979)

§ Mr. Hal Miller
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 strike by the Civil Service The matter is specific. It is a strike by all eight Civil Service unions. I should declare that I am the honorary parliamentary adviser of one of those unions. The matter is of the utmost importance. Unless the Civil Service—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I was only trying to obtain order for the hon. Gentleman. A large number of hon. Members were inevitably leaving the Chamber at that stage. Mr. Hal Miller.

§ Mr. Miller
Unless the civil servants are willing and able to carry out political instructions from the Government of the day, public business in this country must be brought to a halt. It is of vital importance, because the whole strategy of the Government's pay policy has depended upon the principle of comparability. Indeed, the recent strike of the local government workers was settled only on that basis, despite the continuing objections of one union, NUPE.
The issue is of great importance, because of the manner in which the Government have mishandled relations with their own employees. The only result of the way in which the matter has been handled—not only the initial offer being less than the dustmen's, but the attempt by the Secretary of State for Prices to split the union side—has been to endanger the whole future of the Whitley machinery. Whatever the complexion of the Government elected in May, they cannot contemplate that with equanimity.

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. The hon. Member really must direct his remarks to proving that the matter that he wishes to raise is important, specific and urgent 944 enough for me to change the order of the business. He should not state his case now as if I had already granted the application.

§ Mr. Miller
I was trying to avoid stating the case, Mr. Speaker. I was trying to emphasise the importance of the Whitley Council machinery as a means of settling pay for the Civil Service and as a forum for negotiations by the management side, the Civil Service Department, with the Civil Service. All hon. Members will agree on the importance of that procedure, which has been threatened.
The matter is clearly urgent, not only because of the payments being help up to farmers and repayments of VAT but because of the threat to Government revenue, quite apart from the considerable and continuing inconvenience to the public in aircraft flights and other matters.
For these reasons—that the strike is specific, important and urgent—I apply for permission to move the Adjournment of the House to allow the matter to be debated.

§ Mr. Speaker
The hon. Member gave me notice before 12 o'clock today that he would seek leave to move the Adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that he believes should have urgent consideration, namely, the strike by the Civil Service. As the House knows, 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. I have listened with great care to the hon. Member's representations, but I have to rule that they do not fall within the provisions of the Standing Order. Therefore, I cannot submit his application to the House.