§ Mr. David Jamieson (Plymouth, Devonport)I wish to present a petition containing 33,661 names of the residents of the Plymouth area. The House will be aware of the uncertainty over the future of the royal dockyards as we await the award of the contract for nuclear submarines. That contract is vital to the maintenance of jobs in Devonport, Plymouth and the south-west of England. The petition reads:
To the honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament Assembled, The humble petition of Plymouth area residents sheweth: Devonport Dockyard is the largest industrial complex in the south west of England and is responsible directly and indirectly for 22,600 jobs in the Plymouth area and as such is crucial to the economic well being of the region. The future survival of the Devonport Dockyard is dependent on the actions of Her Majesty's Government.Wherefore your humble Petitioners pray that your honourable House urges Her Majesty's Government to guarantee the continued survival of Devonport Dockyard and Naval Base in its present form.And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray etc.
§ To lie upon the Table.