HC Deb 08 March 1979 vol 963 cc1506-7
Mr. Raison

I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House, under Standing Order No. 9, for the purpose of discussing a specific, urgent and important matter, namely, the intensification of industrial action in the National Health Service. This matter is specific because it is the declared intention of the National Union of Public Employees to extend its action to hospitals where it has not yet taken place or has occurred only on a small scale. In other words, there is a major escalation of this callous action.

The matter is urgent because this action apparently is to go ahead straight away. It is important because, although any obstacle to the care of the sick must be regretted, this is a deliberate attack on the normal care of the sick on a major scale.

This is a matter of intense concern throughout the country which should be debated at the earliest opportunity. If you grant this application, Mr. Speaker, as I hope you will, I am sure that the House would not expect the Secretary of State for Social Services to be present against medical advice.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member gave me notice before 12 o'clock 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 intensification of industrial action in the National Health Service. The hon. Member has brought to our notice a serious matter. He knows that it is for me to decide not whether the matter should be debated but whether it should be debated tonight or on Monday.

I listened with great care to what the 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.