§ Mr. Laurie Pavitt (Brent, South)With your permission, Mr. Speaker, and that of the House, I beg leave to present with a sense of urgency a petition concerning the pay of nurses and other National Health Service workers. The urgency is that, with the unyielding attitude of the Government, there will be industrial action on Monday.
In the last few days, a collection has been made of 374 signatures of National Health Service workers, local residents and councillors in the London borough of Brent. In addition, I have 151 signatures which I cannot present because they were not on the due form prescribed by the House.
The petition states
That present rates of pay of National Health Service staff are totally inadequate in view of the present cost of living.Wherefore your Petitioners humbly pray that your Honourable House will do all in its power to urge the Government to make an increased offer, or to refer the matter to arbitration.And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.
§ I beg leave to present the petition.
§ To lie upon the Table.