§ Dr. Norman A. Godman (Greenock and Port Glasgow)I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House, under Standing Order No. 20, for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration, namely,
the decision, announced yesterday, by the Scott Lithgow company to declare redundant 1,600 employees.This specific issue of huge job losses is of great importance, not only to my constituency but to Strathclyde and to Scotland as a whole. It is a matter worthy of urgent consideration because this decision will darken the lives of many families in Greenock and Port Glasgow and elsewhere in Scotland. It is essential that we debate the issue now, because these redundancies form the latest chapter in a worsening story in the oil-related industries and the shipbuilding industry not only in Scotland but throughout the United Kingdom.Finally, I believe that it is within the Government's power to halt the seemingly remorseless job decline in those industries. That could be done by advancing public sector orders, by persuading British shipowners to buy British, and by changing present arrangements or bringing about a much improved EEC directive on shipbuilding.
Today is a very dark day for my constituency, and I appeal to you, Mr. Speaker, to grant my request.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Member for Greenock and Port Glasgow (Dr. Godman) asks leave to move the Adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that he believes should have urgent consideration, namely,
the decision, announced yesterday by the Scott Lithgow company to declare redundant 1,600 employees.I can well understand the hon. Gentleman's concern about that matter, and he knows that my only consideration in reviewing it is whether to give it precedence over the business set down for today or tomorrow. I regret that I do not consider the matter that he has raised as being appropriate for discussion under Standing Order No. 20, but I hope that he will find other ways of bringing it before the House.