§ Mr. Henry Bellingham (North-West Norfolk)I am extremely grateful to you, Madam Speaker, for allowing me to raise this matter. I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House, under Standing Order No. 20, for the purpose of discussing a specific matter that requires urgent consideration, namely,
the relocation of the construction industry training board.I know that this afternoon the House is discussing equal rights for women, but I received some devastating news in my constituency this morning, when the construction industry training board announced that it would be relocating its headquarters out of my constituency, with the loss of 300 jobs. The matter is specific to my constituency because it is a rural area, and in such areas unemployment is high.You should be aware, Madam Speaker, that the CITB is not like Wimpey or ICI; it is not a private sector organisation. It is governed by Parliament, by statute, and it is answerable to the Minister. Parliament sets the levy for the CITB and therefore the board is accountable to Parliament.
It is especially distressing—the feeling among staff at the CITB is rage and betrayal—that there has been absolutely no consultation with staff. The chairman and the chief executive of the CITB did not bother to consult me or to consult staff. I feel equally let down. Moreover, the chief executive, Sir Clifford Chetwode, did not even have the decency to go up to Bircham Newton in my constituency and announce in person the havoc that he is wreaking among 300 families in my constituency.
466 One reason that Sir Clifford Chetwode gives is the so-called Bircham Newton factor. He says that management in my constituency is below average; there is a shortage of skills and he cannot obtain top-class middle management. That is a dreadful indictment of my constituency. If household name firms in my constituency such as Dow Chemicals, Bespak and Porvair can obtain top management, why cannot the construction industry training board? If there is a problem with the management of the CITB, it has nothing to do with staff in my constituency, but everything to do with the people in London—Sir Clifford Chetwode and Ted Wilmot—who are not showing the leadership required; the fault lies with them. That is why I feel strongly that the Minister should come to the House this afternoon, and there should be an emergency debate.
The Minister must know about the grave situation. I am aware that he cannot tell the construction industry training board what to do, but he must know, and be told, what is happening; he must answer to the House. If the relocation goes ahead, it will cause devastation to 300 families in my constituency. There is a grave sense of betrayal, and I feel strongly that, however important this afternoon's business is, this subject is even more important.
§ Madam SpeakerOrder. I have to respond to the hon. Member for North-West Norfolk (Mr. Bellingham). If hon. Members make comments in the House, a response must be given.
I listened carefully to what the hon. Gentleman said. As he knows, I have to give my decision without stating any reasons. I am afraid that I do not consider that the matter that the hon. Gentleman raised is appropriate for discussion under Standing Order No. 20 and I therefore cannot submit the application to the House.