§ Mr. Tom Clarke (Monklands, West)On behalf of my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Monklands, East (Mr. Smith) and myself, I wish to present a petition which has been given to us by our constituents and others in response to the astonishing decision taken during the parliamentary recess by British Steel to announce the closure of Gartcosh works and indeed to confirm its lack of faith in the future of Ravenscraig by refusing adequate investment in that plant.
Our constituents, the people of Scotland generally and indeed many others who see the steel industry as being essential to our manufacturing base support the petition and the cause of Gartcosh and Ravenscraig:
Wherefore your petitioners pray that your honourable House do urge the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and the chairman of the British Steel Corporation to reconsider the decision to close the BSC plant at Gartcosh and to make the necessary new investment to secure the long-term future of the Gartcosh-Ravenscraig complex.And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.
§ To lie upon the Table.