HC Deb 10 June 1980 vol 986 cc315-6
Mr. Fry

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 crisis facing the British footwear industry. I take this step because an industry that has already suffered 2,000 redundancies in recent months was shocked late yesterday to discover that another 400 redundancies were declared, particularly in the county of Northamptonshire.

The workers in this industry are not marked for being too highly paid. It is not an industry that has been rent by industrial action. Relations between the trade unions and employers in the industry have always been excellent.

Yet one of our traditional industries is on the verge of severe collapse. Import penetration in a smaller home market has gone up by 5 per cent. in the last 12 months. The industry is being subjected to a degree of unfair competition, particularly from Eastern European imports, which is severely undermining the welfare, jobs and stability of many in this country.

I can do no better than to quote from a telegram that I received at lunch time from a constituent who runs a shoe firm : Front page Daily Telegraph Tuesday. The potato imports banned. Six more footwear factories closed. Can the Minister explain difference in treament? The industry, which has given good service to this country and is facing a severe crisis, is entitled to ask such questions and to receive a reply from the Government.

On behalf of many hard-working, loyal citizens of this country, I put it to you. Mr. Speaker, that it is time that their problems were debated in the House.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member for Wellingborough (Mr. Fry) asks 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 crisis facing the British footwear industry ". I listened with concern to the hon. Gentleman. He has submitted that the industry is entitled to a debate and to hear the voice of the Government. As the House knows, that is not a matter for me. My only discretion is whether there should be an emergency debate tonight or tomorrow.

I listened carefully to what the hon. Gentleman said, but I must rule that his submission does not fall within the provisions of the Standing Order. Therefore, I cannot submit his application to the House.