§ Mr. SimsI 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 continuing and worsening series of strikes on British Railways, due to an inter-union dispute.I base my request on three grounds. First, British Railways have intimated that they are losing £5 million each day of the strike. Unless these sums can be recouped by radical internal economies, including staff reductions, the costs will have to be borne either by passengers paying further increased fares or by the people generally, through taxation.Secondly, large quantities of raw materials, goods and equipment normally conveyed by rail are being delayed on their way to manufacturers and customers, thus exacerbating the damage already inflicted on the economy by the road haulage dispute. This is particularly serious in the case of delaying export orders to the docks.
Thirdly, hundreds of thousands of people, including my constituents, who normally travel to work by train are now back to working a three-day week. This is particularly so in London and the South-East, although it is also occurring in the provinces. It is happening for the second week running after sporadic one-day strikes for some time.
All this is because of a dispute, not so much between employer and employee but between two unions. The nation is suffering for this. I suggest that the effects of the dispute are such as to qualify it as a specific and important matter which merits urgent consideration by the House.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Member gave me notice before 12 o'clock this morning that he would seek 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 continuing and worsening series of strikes on British Railways, due to an inter-union dispute.725 The hon. Gentleman has raised a very important question to which I have listened with great care. The House has instructed me not to give the reasons for my decision when I receive an application of this sort.I regret to have to tell the hon. Member that his submission does not fall within the provisions of the Standing Order. Therefore, I cannot submit his application to the House.
§ Mr. SpeakerBefore I call the hon. Member for Liverpool, Scotland Exchange (Mr. Parry), I remind the House that Standing Order applications cannot be used to answer another application that has been made, and all that one can do in making an application is to put the case for an emergency debate.