HC Deb 15 January 1979 vol 960 cc1329-31
Mr. Eyre

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 mounting chaos in the West Midlands affecting transport, essential services and employment ". Reports that the West Midlands is excluded from the official national strike of the Transport and General Workers' Union give the misleading impression that the situation is not so serious in that area as in others. In fact, the major part of the West Midlands has been worse hit than most other areas for two reasons.

The first reason is that unofficial action in support of the strike, including secondary picketing, has been widespread. In any event, non-striking drivers may drive their vehicles only to the boundaries of the West Midlands area, whereupon pickets in other areas stop them and severely limit their usefulness.

The second reason is that when the tanker drivers' pay dispute was settled at national level last week an unofficial picket was immediately imposed at the Kingsbury terminal near Birmingham. Within hours, the supply of petrol and oil fuel within the region dried up. A weekend of despair followed as industry and motorists were unable to obtain supplies. Visits to hospital patients and elderly relatives were prevented, and some workers providing essential services at power plants and similar installations were unable to get to work.

Many in the West Midlands are critical that the Government took action by way of a state of emergency in Northern Ireland to deal with a similar problem but denied the West Midlands that protection.

Although the severe limitation of fuel supplies has eased, the consequences of the unofficial strike action are continuing to make worse the problem of industrial stoppages that are rapidly mounting this week. The greatest threat to jobs comes from picketing at the docks. That action is stopping exports of manufactured goods from going out and, therefore, is harming our reputation for reliability. At the same time, and perhaps more seriously, that action is preventing raw materials, which are essential for industrial production, from coming into the region. It is felt by many that a state of emergency to clear essential materials will be required very soon.

If the present situation is permitted to continue, the industrial Midlands will grind to a halt within the next 10 days. Nearly 1 million employees will be thrown out of work, including up to 100,000 who are working for British Leyland. There will be a similar devastating effect upon those making car components and a whole range of other manufactured goods.

The mounting chaos will do enormous long-term damage to our prospects of industrial recovery as well as cause great hardship to thousands of families that are dependent upon work in the great but declining industrial areas of Birmingham, Coventry and the Black Country. I submit that in the circumstances the Adjournment of the House is justified.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member for Birmingham, Hall Green (Mr. Eyre) gave me notice before 12 o'clock this morning that he would seek leave to move the Adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that he thinks should have urgent and serious consideration, namely, the mounting chaos in the West Midlands affecting transport, essential services and employment ". 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 no doubt that the hon. Gentleman has raised an important matter. Equally, I have no doubt that the House will understand why I rule that the hon. Gentleman's submission does not fall within the provisions of the Standing Order. Therefore, I cannot submit his application to the House.