Girobank (Hansard, 28 January 1987)

§ Mr. Allan Roberts (Bootle)

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 urgent matter, namely, Proposals of Girobank management in a secret document to build a new headquarters in the south-east of England as an alternative to the Bootle centre, causing major job losses in Bootle on Merseyside, an area with 30 per cent. unemployment.

The item is specific because the secret report exists and was prepared on the advice of the Government and the Governor of the Bank of England. It is an urgent matter because if the second headquarters for Girobank is built in the south-east of England there would be major job losses in Bootle on Merseyside, which already has massive unemployment. A total of 7,000 people are currently employed at the Girobank headquarters in my constituency and many of those jobs would disappear to the more prosperous south-east.

It is urgent because the report should be published and fully discussed, especially with the Girobank work force and unions and with the community on Merseyside and everybody else connected with the issue. It is urgent because without a debate in the House the report could be acted upon and a site agreed in secret. That would strengthen the major divisions that exist already between the north and the south.

It is important and urgent to have a debate so that the Government can come clean. We need to know whether it is a plan to prepare the way for the privatisation of Girobank if the impossible happens and the Tories win the next general election. The proposals are an attempt to stigmatise as militant the work force at Girobank, which has not had a major industrial dispute or strike since it was established in my constituency in the mid-1960s by my right hon. Friend the Member for Chesterfield (Mr. Benn). It is also urgent and important that it should be discussed 356 because Girobank is growing. It is a huge success for the country, for Merseyside and for Merseyside's image. It is important that that is not destroyed and that there are not major job losses in this hard-hit area.

§ Mr. Speaker

The hon. Gentleman 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 proposed establishment of another Girobank centre in the south-east of England, the consequence of which could lead to the loss of up to 7,000 jobs in Bootle, an areas with 30 per cent. unemployment. I have listened with great care to what the hon. Gentleman has said but I regret that I do not consider the matter that he has raised as appropriate for discussion under Standing Order No. 20. I hope that there will be other opportunities for him. I cannot, therefore, submit his application to the House.