§ 4 pm
§ Mr. Frank Field (Birkenhead)I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House, under Standing Order No. 10, for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration, namely,
the announcement of possible redundancies of up to half the Cammell Laird work force.The request is specific because it relates directly to the redundancy announcement made last night, it is important because the announcement affects a whole army of my constituents and their families who depend on work in the yard, and it is urgent because redundancies on such a scale raise the question of the future of the whole yard. I hope, therefore, that the request falls within the guidelines by which you, Mr. Speaker, are guided.
I wish to mention two other matters. First, a debate on this issue would allow me to stress to the two sides, who are still negotiating, about the implementation of flexible working arrangements, the importance of reaching agreement very soon. Secondly, it would allow the House to question the Government on their corporate plan for the future of British shipbuilding.
For all those reasons, I hope that you, Mr. Speaker, will be able to grant my request.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field) asks leave to move the Adjournment of the House, under Standing Order No. 10, for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration, namely,
the announcement of possible redundancies of up to half the Cammell Laird work force.I do not underestimate the hon. Gentleman's concern about this important matter and I have listened carefully to what he has said, but I regret that I do not consider the matter that he has raised to be appropriate for discussion under Standing Order No. 10 and, therefore, I cannot submit his application to the House.