HC Deb 25 January 1989 vol 145 c1038 4.18 pm
Mr. William O'Brien (Normanton)

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 sudden announcement by the Department of Employment of the closure of the unemployment benefit office at Ossett in west Yorkshire and the hardship and trouble that that will cause to the unemployed in the Ossett area, particularly the disabled. This is a specific issue dealing with the unemployment benefit office in the Ossett area, which has a population of over 20,000. The office is a significant facility that must be retained. It is an important issue because I received a notice last night advising me that the office will be closed with some haste.

Ossett township was a former borough and there are a number of young families and elderly people there. People in that area were recently directed to the Dewsbury office because a computer service had been installed there. When I challenged the Department of Employment on that matter, I was assured that the office would be retained, and I am most disappointed that that assurance is now being withdrawn. My constituents have no affinity with the Dewsbury area. It is not in the constituency. It is not even in the district council area of which Ossett is a part.

Public transport is also a problem. I am discussing the matter with the transport authorities. It is a cruel blow, particularly to the disabled and the chronically sick in my area. There is no jobcentre. I ask that leave be given to adjourn the House so that we can discuss fully the problems in my constituency.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member for Normanton (Mr. O'Brien) 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 sudden announcement by the Department of Employment of the closure of the unemployment benefit office at Ossett in west Yorkshire and the hardship and trouble that that will cause to the unemployed in the Ossett area, particularly the disabled. As the House knows, under Standing Order No. 20, I have to take into account the requirements of the order and announce my decision without giving reasons to the House. I have listened with care to what the hon. Member has said, but he knows that my sole duty in considering this application is to decide whether it should be given priority over the business set clown for this evening or for tomorrow. I regret that the matter he has raised does not meet the requirements of the Standing Order. I cannot therefore submit his application to the House.