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§ Mr. Reg Race (Wood Green)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 1,000,000 Health Service staff who will be undertaking industrial action of a selective character".As you will be aware, Mr. Speaker, during the next three days workers in the National Health Service will be in dispute with the Government. The reason I request the debate urgently is that we must discuss this important matter before the Summer Recess. It is a specific request because the Government have refused a new pay offer to increase their miserable offer to the NHS workers. It is important because there are more than 1,000,000 employees in the National Health Service—the largest collective bargaining group in Britain—who are doing some of the lowest paid, dirtiest and most important jobs in society. It is crucial that we get their pay right.The matter is important because the workers have been treated badly. The 6 per cent. pay offer to some workers will produce small increases. The 4 per cent. increase to the Secretary of State will produce a cash increase of £27.98 a week. That compares with an increase of £3.54 a week before stoppages to an NHS domestic.
The matter is important because we have had no debate in Government time on this issue and because we wish an opportunity to discuss the Government's political priorities. Why should the Government be prepared to spend huge, undisclosed sums on the Falklands crisis by sending a task force there, but refuse to make a decent and respectable pay offer to end the low pay of NHS workers? For those reasons, Mr. Speaker, I hope that you will give my application serious consideration.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Member for Wood Green (Mr. Race) gave me notice before 12 o'clock 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 believes should have urgent consideration, namely,
the 1,000,000 Health Service staff who will be undertaking industrial action of a selective character".I listened with care to the hon. Gentleman, and the House is aware that he has brought our attention to a grievous matter. I am satisfied that the matter raised by the hon. Gentleman is proper to be discussed under Standing Order No. 9. Does the hon. Gentleman have the leave of the House?
§ The leave of the House having been given, the motion stood over, under Standing Order No. 9, until the commencement of public business tomorrow, when a debate on the matter will take place for three hours.
§ Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Is it not normal when a subject of such importance is to be raised in the House for the Minister concerned at least to have the courtesy to be present?
§ Mr. SpeakerI do not suppose that the Minister knew about it. The application was made privately to me and I kept it to myself until now.