HC Deb 14 December 1982 vol 34 c155 5.21 pm
Mr. Martin J. O'Neill (Clackmannan and East Stirlingshire)

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 occupation of the main block of the pumps division of the Weir Group plant in Alloa, following the management's withdrawal of 300 staff employees from the payroll. This sit-in started last Tuesday, 7 December, and is the first occupation of a plant by working people in Scotland since the Employment Act 1982 attempted to make such forms of protest illegal, and follows the victory of the Plessey workers in the courts earlier this year.

It is imperative that the Scottish Office Minister concerned with employment be brought to the House and given time to comment on the issue. Furthermore, the management's action in removing 300 staff from the payroll when they were not involved in the dispute must require comment from a Minister, because trade unionists who are not directly involved in the dispute should not be punished in this way.

This is a matter of great importance, not only to my constituency but to all working people whose rights at work could be placed in jeopardy by unscrupulous management behaving in the way that I have described.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member for Clackmannan and East Stirlingshire (Mr. O'Neill) gave me notice before midday that he would seek 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 occupation of the main block of the pumps division of the Weir Group plant in Alloa, following the management's withdrawal of 300 staff employees from the payroll. The House listened carefully to what the hon. Member had to say, because we realise its importance and significance. However, the House has instructed me to take into account the several factors set out in the order, but to give no reason for my decision. I listened carefully and sympathetically to the hon. Gentleman, but I must rule that his submission does not fall within the provisions of the order and therefore I cannot submit his application to the House.