Leyland Vehicles (Hansard, 16 February 1982)

§ Mr. Tam Dalyell (West Lothian)

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 situation of Leyland Vehicles in Lancashire following the talks yesterday. The management has said that if the dispute is not settled by the end of the week, in the words of Mr. David Andrews, the managing director, It would be out of our hands very swiftly. It is urgent because, if the members should vote on Thursday or Friday to continue the dispute, the management has said that it will close Leyland Vehicles and come out of the industry.

The matter is important because of the knock-on effect; eighteen thousand jobs are directly involved and there are multiplier or, dare I say, divider effects which will ripple around the British economy.

My task is to persuade you, Mr. Speaker, that this matter should have precedence over other important business. No Government should be able to pass by, as might a biblical Levite in this situation, on the other side of the road. Surely the Government's position ought to be made clear either in a short debate or by a statement. This situation must be clarified before fateful decisions are taken. Need I say any more, Mr. Speaker?

§ Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member for West Lothian (Mr. Dalyell) gave me notice before 12 noon today that he might seek to make an application under Standing Order No. 9.

The hon. Gentleman 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 situation arising from the talks on Leyland Vehicles involving 18, 000 jobs directly, with a multiplier or divider effect around the British economy."

I listened with anxious concern, as the House has done, to what the hon. Gentleman said in submitting his application because he has called attention to a very serious matter. As the House knows, under the Standing Order I am directed to take account of the several factors set out in the order, but to give no reasons for my decision.

I have carefully considered and listened with deep concern to the hon. Gentleman's remarks, but my powers are limited and I have to rule that his submission does not fall within the provisions of the Standing Order. Therefore, I cannot submit his application to the House.