British Steel Corporation (Hansard, 19 October 1982)

§ Mr. Stanley Orme (Salford, West)

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 crisis in the British Steel Corporation". This matter deals specifically with the alarming news that the British Steel Corporation is once again in crisis and that certain measures will be taken unless an improvement is seen by the end of the month. This crisis is of urgent and serious proportions. It threatens the existence of five major plants—Teesside, Scunthorpe, Port Talbot, Ravenscraig and Llanwern—the jobs of thousands of steel workers and the future of a viable steel industry in Britain. No plant is safe from this threat, and the repercussions of any closure would be enormous.

This crisis has been brought about by the collapse in demand for steel in this country. It is a direct product of the decline in the manufacturing sector, which has been hugely accelerated over the past three years. It is obvious that the cash limits laid on the British Steel Corporation by the Government cannot be met. The crisis is compounded by the flood of imports, which, in the first quarter of this year, reached more than 30 per cent. of the home market.

The House should also have an immediate report on the negotiations taking place on British steel imports into the United States, which amount to less than 1 per cent. of the American domestic market.

The British Steel Corporation is a major nationalised industry of vital importance to the industrial future of Britain. This House must hear what action the Government are taking and will take to prevent a further reduction in capacity and another round of redundancies.

I therefore urge you, Mr. Speaker, to accept this motion for an immediate debate.

§ Mr. Speaker

The right hon. Member for Salford, West (Mr. Orme) 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 crisis in the British Steel Corporation". The House is aware that this is a serious matter to which the right hon. Gentleman has brought our attention.

The House knows that whenever these applications come to me they cause me grievous concern, but it has also instructed me to take into account the several factors set out in the order. As I said yesterday, and I repeat today, there are several factors that I must bear in mind, which in no way diminishes my own concern or that of the House about this grievous issue. The House has instructed me to give no reasons for my decision. I have to rule that the right hon. Gentleman's submission does not fall within the provisions of the Standing Order and, therefore, I cannot submit his application to the House.