§ Sir G. COLLINSI ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House in order to discuss a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, "The uncertainty as to the future economic position of the country owing to the refusal by His Majesty's Government of definite information as to the treaties or engagements in force between the United Kingdom and other countries." In asking your permission, Sir, may I recall to your memory that the hon. Member for Chippenham, on 24th June, 1919, moved the Adjournment of the House in these words:
That the uncertainty as to the future economic policy of the country, in the absence of definite steps for the prevention of dumping and the protection of key industries promised at the recent general election, is a matter of great urgency to this country and calls for immediate action by the Government.
§ Mr. SPEAKERI am afraid that I cannot put this Question to the House. In the first place, the Motion submitted to me by the hon. and gallant Gentleman is in itself indefinite, and, in the second place, the Treaties for which he asks are all, I am informed, in the Library, and therefore available to his own research. As to the urgency of the matter, the Bill itself is to come on shortly, when he can put the argument on the question. He has quoted a precedent, but where there is one precedent one way, and scores in another way, I think I am bound to take the majority, especially when I think that the majority of cases are the right ones.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIs not that the most recent one?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat may be so. I think it must have been granted per incuriam.
§ Mr. HOGGEMay I call attention to Question 5 on the Order Paper to-day, on which it is stated by the President of the Board of Trade that the House would not be in possession of the names of the countries until after the Bill had become an Act of Parliament? If we were to know before we went into Committee to which countries this Bill would apply, I could understand the position, but if the position is as stated, that until the Bill becomes an Act of Parliament we shall not know those countries and those countries are to be named by Committees set up under the Bill, may I respectfully ask you how this House can discuss the full purport of a Bill for safeguarding industries, when the countries to which it does apply or does not apply will not be made known until the Committees have considered those countries?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is an argument on the Bill itself. I am told that the Treaties are in the Library. Perhaps the hon. Member may persuade the Committee to drop the Clause.
§ Sir G. COLLINSMay I point out that under the Guillotine Resolution the House may be prohibited from discussing this very important point? In view of your ruling, may I ask if there is any other way by which the House of Commons and the country can know for the first time the intentions of the Government on this Bill?
§ Mr. SPEAKERWhether it will be ascertained in Committee or not I cannot say, but as to the allocation of time, the House has already decided that point.