Coal Industry Dispute (Hansard, 21 January 1985)

§ Mr. Jeremy Corbyn (Islington, North)

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 coal industry dispute and the state of power supplies in this country". I do so for several reasons. First, the miners' dispute has gone on for over 10 months. Secondly, it has produced terrifying costs in human terms. Thirdly, there have been changes in Government policy by stealth—by DHSS payments being withheld, and by the use of a national police force. Fourthly, it has had an effect on public spending.

There are many queries about the real cost in terms of public spending of the miners' dispute. It is estimated to be over £5 billion, both in direct costs and in indirect costs such as loss of tax income and other incomes which the Government could expect if the coal industry were working normally. Furthermore, it is likely that the cost of electricity will rise as a result of this dispute, because the Government are paying a great deal of money to import coal and oil to attempt to break this dispute. There are also. many queries about the safety of nuclear power stations, which have not had normal safety checks throughout the period of this dispute, and about the safety of many other power stations.

The statements made by the president of the National Union of Mineworkers and other people over the weekend warrant an urgent and immediate debate in the House. The House has not debated the dispute since 21 December, when it did so on the initiative of one of my Back-Bench colleagues, who caught your eye, Mr. Speaker, during an 732 Adjournment debate and was able to raise this matter. Therefore, it is critical that the House debates the cost of the miners' dispute, because if the House is to represent the people, and if hon. Members are elected to come to the House to raise matters of concern to their constituents and the country as a whole, they must have the right to raise them in the House. This is a democratic establishment, and this debate is crucial.

There have been no debates in Government time on the miners' dispute for many months, and we have reached a critical point, when power supplies are under a question mark and the amount of money being spent by the Government is under a great deal of scrutiny. The Government should submit themselves to public scrutiny so that many questions can be raised and, I trust, answered. I hope, Mr. Speaker, that you will agree to this debate taking place, in view of the urgent and critical nature of the mining dispute and the effect that it is having on so many people and communities.