§ Mrs. Margaret Ewing (Moray)It is with great honour and humility that I present to the House—[Interruption.]
§ Madam Deputy Speaker (Dame Janet Fookes)Order. I am sorry to interrupt the hon. Lady, but it is grossly discourteous for those leaving to make so much noise that the hon. Member who has the floor cannot be heard.
§ Mrs. EwingThank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.
It is with humility that I present to the House a petition from my constituents in connection with unemployment in rural areas of Scotland.
Many of us believe that unemployment is the key issue for modern society. Without a job or the dignity of employment, and without the feeling that society cares, there is a sense of outrage in many areas. I dispute the idea that those who are not in employment are lazy, lack interest in employment opportunities and should be reduced to an unemployment scrap heap.
The petition is not selfish. It does not relate solely to my constituency but looks beyond it to highlight the distress and concern felt by families in many rural areas of Scotland and other parts of the United Kingdom that many traditional areas of employment are being downgraded—
§ Madam Deputy SpeakerOrder. I am sorry to interrupt the hon. Lady, but it is not in order to make a full-blown speech when presenting a petition. All that is possible is a summary of what the petition requires.
§ Mrs. EwingI am attempting to give a short summary of the issues involved in the petition.
The petition relates to traditional areas of employment within rural constituencies, especially in the north of Scotland, such as fishing, farming, distilling and forestry. It also relates to new areas where the implications of petroleum revenue tax changes on oil fabrication yards are of significant proportions.
More than 10,000 signatures have been collected in Morayshire in connection with the petition, which says:
To the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom, of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled.The Humble Petition of the people of Moray and elsewhere shewethThat we wish to express grave concern at increasing levels of unemployment;That there should be a united commitment to the objectives laid out in the Moray Charter for Jobs, in an attempt to counter the social and economic effects of unemployment in Moray and elsewhere.Wherefore your Petitioners pray that your honourable House will support and implement the proposals in the Moray Charter for Jobs.And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.This is a sincere petition from my constituents and other individuals in the area surrounding Moray. We regard the matter against the background of the European Community's objectives 1 and 5b and hope—
§ Madam Deputy SpeakerOrder. I am sorry, but I must bring the matter to a conclusion. Will the hon. Member bring the petition forward?
§ To lie upon the Table.