§ Mr. Jeremy Corbyn (Islington, North)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. This morning my hon. Friend the Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks) and I visited the picket line at the P and O dispute at Dover. Although I do not wish to challenge your response to the application made my my hon. Friend the Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) under Standing Order No. 20, may I say that several people involved in the dispute drew to our attention serious unsafe working practices on the P and O vessels that are attempting to sail and the mad and desperate search by P and O to find people to scab in the dispute?
Many of the people on the picket line asked us how safety could be debated in the House and by what means Parliament can express its view on the dispute. They looked to us, as we look to you, Mr. Speaker, to find some means by which the serious matters of safety at sea, the appalling treatment of those who are in dispute with P and O and the mad drive for profits by that company can be brought to public attention through the House.
§ Mr. SpeakerThis is a serious matter. There are plenty of opportunities to raise the matter; for instance, on Opposition days, in Adjournment debates and at Question Time.