§ Mr. John SilkinI 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 failure of Her Majesty's Government to give full support to the National Enterprise Board, which is vital to the essential and continuing needs of British industry ".I must apologise, Mr. Speaker, for not raising the matter earlier. However, I could hardly have done so without hearing the Secretary of State's statement.The matter is specific; of that there is no doubt. If it is not debated, made 2018 more clear and amplified, we shall not be able to discuss it for the next three months or so. It will not be possible to discuss it for that period because the House is to go into the Summer Recess.
The effect of that delay will be considerable uncertainty among not only those whose jobs may be at risk or who feel that their jobs are at risk, as some of my hon. Friends said, but among those who may be making decisions to move into the regions, as my hon. Friend the Member for Keighley (Mr. Cryer) said. Uncertainty will prevail in the market. The question that will hang over it is which of the various industries' assets may be disposed of. We are talking about Ferranti, ICL, Alfred Herbert and the thousands of jobs that are at risk in their disposal.
In view of that, Mr. Speaker, there can be little doubt that we should have a debate, and we should have one before the House adjourns. There could hardly be a more important matter. Indeed, some Conservative Members have said that it is the most important issue that faces the House. That is self-evident in view of the statement itself and the interest that it has aroused.
§ Mr. SpeakerI listened with care to the exchanges earlier this afternoon. The right hon. Member for Deptford (Mr. Silkin) seeks 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 failure of Her Majesty's Government to give full support to the National Enterprise Board, which is vital to the essential and continuing needs of British industry ".As the House knows, under Standing Order No. 9 I am directed to take account of the several factors set out in the order. The House has given me instructions to give no reasons for my decision.I listened with care to what the right hon. Gentleman said, 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