§ Mr. John Smith (Monklands, East)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 disposal of the various divisions of British Leyland.The matter is specific because an auction is taking place of defined parts of the British Leyland empire. It is extremely specific for the thousands of employees in the various divisions. The Secretary of State was asked earlier by my hon. Friends the Members for Birmingham, Hodge Hill (Mr. Davis) and for Warley, East (Mr. Faulds) whether the employees who have not yet been consulted would be consulted before or after a deal was struck.
It is staggering that the Secretary of State saw fit not to answer a question that goes right to the heart of the matter. We need to debate the matter in the House so that we know the Government's position on that and other issues. I need hardly say, in view of previous exchanges, that the matter is important to hon. Members on both sides of the House and to many parts of the country. It is especially important because it appears that the Government want to sell a company, namely British Leyland Vehicles, on the basis of the results of two years' profits in the middle of a deep recession, although just last week that company reached the top of the league for heavy truck sales in the United Kingdom.
The matter is urgent because it is clear from what the Secretary of State said that a deal with General Motors is all but signed, sealed and delivered. Irrevocable steps may be taken on the basis of assurances satisfactory to an easily satisfied Government but unlikely to be satisfactory to the House.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe right hon. and learned Member for Monklands, East (Mr. Smith) asks leave to move the Adjournment of the House, under Standing Order No. 10, for the purpose of discussing a matter of specific importance that he thinks should have urgent consideration, namely,
the disposal of the various divisions of British Leyland.I regret that I must give the right hon. and learned Gentleman the same answer as I gave to his right hon. Friend the Member for Chesterfield (Mr. Benn). I do not consider the matter which he has raised as being appropriate for discussion under Standing Order No. 10 and I cannot, therefore, submit his application to the House.
§ Mr. Jack Straw (Blackburn)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. None of us would wish to challenge your ruling, and I do not do so, but I know that you are aware of the deep concern of many constituents, including mine, about their future and the future of the firms on which they depend. Will you say whether, later this week, you might decide that the matter is so urgent that you will entertain an application under Standing Order No. 10?
§ Mr. SpeakerThat is a purely hypothetical question. I must take into account what other opportunities are available to raise such matters.