§ 10 pm
§ Mr. Hugh Bayley (York)I present a petition that expresses the grave concern of many of my constituents in the city of York and in many other places about the horrendous threat to jobs posed by rail privatisation. The petition reads as follows:
To the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled. The Humble Petition of residents of the City of York and other parts of the United Kingdom, showeth That they wish to protest against the Government's plan to privatise the railways. Wherefore your Petitioners pray that your honourable House calls for all possible steps to be taken to protect the jobs of those connected with the rail industry in York. And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c.The petition is signed by David Flintham, the editor of my local paper, the Yorkshire Evening Press, by Robert Beaumont, the chief features writer, and by more than 12,000 other of my constituents and people of neighbouring areas.
§ To lie upon the Table.