§ Mr. David Harris (St. Ives)I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House, under Standing Order No. 10, for the purpose of giving consideration to a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration, namely,
the international tin crisis and the consequent redundancies in the Cornish tin industry.I submit that the matter is specific in that it is nearly seven weeks since trading in tin was suspended on the London Metal Exchange, and the crisis has still not been resolved. It is certainly a matter of importance, given that the crises has many international repercussions, including many domestic ramifications. It has implications for the good name of the City of London and for trading arrangements, particularly if certain nations renege on their international commitments to support the International Tin Council.The matter has extremely serious implications for the Cornish tin industry, and that is my prime interest in the subject. I have taken this step of asking for an emergency debate under Standing Order No. 10 because yesterday the Geevor tin mine in my constituency took the first step which could result—I hope that it will not—in 340 of its 375 work force being made redundant. Yesterday—I have the greatest sympathy for all concerned—the mine issued protective notices under the Employment Protection Act 1975. If the situation is not resolved within three months, it seems almost certain that those 340 people will lose their jobs.
The Geevor mine is in an extremely remote part of Cornwall, being five or six miles from Land's End. There is literally nothing else there, apart from tourism and 766 farming, to support that community. I am grateful for the fact that the Minister for Trade has taken an interest in the matter and I know that he is doing his utmost behind the scenes to try to resolve the situation, at least from the point of view of the International Tin Council.
I am also grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for seeing a couple of weeks ago a delegation formed of members of the industry, the county council, mining interests and others who came to plead their case and impress on him the dire crisis which that part of Cornwall will face if this and other mines close. My right hon. Friend gave a sympathetic reception to the delegation and I am sure that he will give equally sympathetic consideration to the points that were made. The issuing of redundancy notices yesterday underlines the seriousness and urgency of the situation. That is why I seek this emergency debate under Standing Order No. 10.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Gentleman asks leave to move the Adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration, namely,
the international tin crisis and the consequent issuing of redundancy notices to miners in Cornwall.I have listened with great care to what the hon. Gentleman has said and fully understand the point he makes on behalf of his constituents. However, I regret that I do not consider that the matter he has raised is appropriate for discussion under Standing Order No. 10; therefore, I cannot submit his application to the House.