§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEI rise to move the adjournment of the House to consider a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, the refusal of the Prime Minister to afford the House of Commons an early opportunity to consider the action of the Government of India in deporting and holding in detention, without trial or charge preferred against them, certain well-known subjects of His Majesty's Indian Empire.
§ Mr. SPEAKERI have to point out to the hon. Member that the matter which he proposes to discuss, namely, the action of the Government of India in deporting and holding in detention, without trial or charge preferred against them, certain well-known subjects of His Majesty's Indian Empire, has already been discussed 238 in the House, and, therefore, cannot be discussed again. Therefore, as the subject cannot be discussed again, it cannot be a matter of urgent necessity that an early opportunity should be given. Therefore, on the ground of urgency, I shall have to hold that the hon. Member's Motion will not be justified.
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEMay I submit respectfully that since the matter was discussed before certain new facts have come to light and certain charges against the men who have been deported have been made from the Treasury Bench charging them with having supplied funds for assassination. That constitutes a new element in that case of a very serious character, and one which I respectfully submit the House of Commons should have an opportunity of discussing.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThere will, of course, be an opportunity for discussion on the Indian Budget. [An HON. MEMBER: "And on the Motion for the adjournment at Whitsuntide."] I am not sufficiently well acquainted with the facts to say whether new evidence has come to light or not. At all events, the fact is that these gentlemen were deported last November, and the matter was discused last February.
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEMay I say that on the Indian Budget it is a matter of the chance of the ballot whether this subject will be discussed. Some other topic may be selected which will shut this out. May I say, with great respect, that a matter of this kind is of too much importance to take its chance with half-a-dozen others on the Motion for the adjournment for the holidays? It has been stated that the information the India Office now possesses could not be given in the form of question and answer. We have waited until the! last hope of getting a private Member's night was run before taking this course of moving the adjournment of the House. I submit it is a case in which the House might be allowed an opportunity for discussing this matter on a Motion for the adjournment of the House.
§ Mr. SPEAKERI am afraid I must hold that the matter is not urgent.