HC Deb 20 February 1980 vol 979 cc472-3
Mr. John Stokes (Halesowen and Stour-bridge)

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 claim by picket leaders that 2,000 steel workers and miners will descend on the Sheerness Steel Company on the Isle of Sheppey, that coachloads of steel workers and miners are travelling from Yorkshire, Scotland, the Midlands and South Wales to the steel plant, together with 300 miners from Kent, and that as a result, a serious breach of the peace will occur, in addition to possible damage to property, and inconvenience and danger to local people. I submit that this is a specific matter because the threat has actually been made and is now in process of being carried out. It is a very important matter, as you yourself stated on Monday when I made my earlier submission, which should concern this House. I have grave doubts that even some 500 London police will be sufficient to prevent violence and disorder throughout today and I fear that some workers will be prevented from entering the factory or from carrying out their duties, or will be harassed when they try to leave.

Since I wrote to you before 12 o'clock today, Mr. Speaker, in spite of some serious incidents at Sheerness involving very large numbers of pickets—including at one time a charge of some 1,000 pickets against the police and some 19 arrests—I understand from a more recent report that the situation is quieter but still menacing. Meanwhile disorder has broken out in Lanarkshire, in Scotland, where, up to 2 pm, which is the last time I received information, about 11 pickets have had to be detained by the police. I have no doubt that other disturbances are being planned in different parts of the United Kingdom and will continue to be until suppressed.

Finally, I submit that the matter is urgent for the reasons that I gave in my earlier submission on Monday—namely, that these massive demonstrations and disorders cannot be allowed to continue if Parliament is to be responsible for "peace and tranquillity" in the realm, as we prayed earlier this afternoon.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member for Halesowne and Stourbridge (Mr. Stokes) gave me notice before noon 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, That 2,000 steel workers and miners will descend on the Sheerness Steel Company on the Isle of Sheppey, that coach loads of steel workers and miners are travelling from Yorkshire, Scotland, the Midlands and South Wales to the steel plant together with 300 miners from Kent, and that, as a result, a serious breach of the peace will occur, in addition to possible damage to property, and inconvenience, and danger to local people. As the House will understand, I have given a great deal of thought to the hon. Gentleman's submission. As I indicated on Monday, I view the matter with deep concern, as does the rest of the House. There are many factors that I have to take into account. As the House knows, in the language that is normally used in the House, I have to take into account the several factors set out in the Order, but to give no reasons for my decision.

After anxious thought I am of the opinion that this is not the time to grant this application and, therefore, I cannot submit the hon. Gentleman's application to the House.