§ Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe)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 negotiations taking place between the Department of Health and Social Services and a company funded by the National Enterprise Board, United Medical Enterprises, to turn hospitals in Britain into private medical centres.The matter is important because the National Health Service was established to provide health care for all our people free at the point of use. It is extremely urgent because it is widely reported that some squalid little deal is going on behind closed doors between the Government and a company that was set up by the NEB as a subsidiary to export our expertise in the sale of hospitals.This issue is crucial to the areas concerned because the list of hospitals appears to include those in areas where there is already a chronic shortage of staff. If there is to be a sale of National Health Service assets, which will then be staffed, at the expense of the NHS, by doctors and nurses in a private profit-making unit, the House should consider it immediately.
A most worrying suggestion is that there is to be a private children's hospital in an area where NHS facilities already exists. If this country ever returns to the point where the treatment of a child is decided by the size of its parent's purse we shall have signally failed to do our duty as parliamentarians.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Lady gave me notice before 12 o'clock today that she would ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing
the negotiations taking place between the Department of Health and Social Services and a company funded by the National Enterprise Board, United Medical Enterprises, to turn hospitals in Britain into private medical centres.The hon. Lady has brought to our attention a matter which is undoubtedly of considerable importance. The House knows that under Standing Order No. 9 I am directed to take into account the several factors set out in the Order but to give no reasons for my decision.I listened with care to the hon. Lady, but I have to rule that her submission does not fall within the provisions of the Standing Order. Therefore, I cannot submit her applications to the House.
§ Mr. Laurie Pavitt (Brent, South)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I do not wish to discuss this matter, but will you give guidance about how "urgency" is defined under the Standing Order? When a matter is raised with you as one of urgency, we usually presume that it concerns action 32 that is to take place in the immediate future. In determining applications—not this one, but others—what time scale do you consider makes a matter urgent?
§ Mr. SpeakerIt would be most unwise for me to reply to the hon. Gentleman in terms of days or weeks. It is a matter of discretion, and the House has asked me not to give my reasons.