§ 79. Mr. KIRKWOODasked the Secretary for Scotland whether he will take steps to secure that all rents of persons who are unemployed will be paid as long as their unemployment continues?
Mr. ADAMSONI am at present con sidering whether it will be possible to take any steps in the direction indicated by my hon. Friend.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the practice which I mentioned in this question of rents being paid as long as people are unemployed is in operation in England, and why should it not be so in Scotland?
Mr. ADAMSONIn my answer to my; hon. Friend, I have said that I am considering that point with the authorities concerned.
§ Mr. BUCHANANMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he is aware that a serious situation is arising in connection with this matter in Scotland which is likely to disturb the peace, particularly in Clydebank and Dumbarton; and what steps, if any, he intends to take in view of that situation to allay the feelings and to meet the wishes of the tenants?
Mr. ADAMSONI am well aware, of the seriousness of the situation, and I am at the present time considering the point raised in the question with the authorities involved.
§ Captain WEDGWOOD BENNCan the right hon. Gentleman say when he will be able to make a statement of the Government's intended action?
Mr. ADAMSONI cannot say. I think my hon. and gallant Friend had better wait and see. I am acting as quickly as I can.
§ Mr. BUCHANANMay I ask your ruling, Mr. Speaker, whether in view of the great urgency and the danger to the public peace in and around Glasgow in connection with this question, due to the fact that people are being evicted from their homes, I should be in order in moving the Adjournment of the House?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe Government have been asked to make a change, but they have not at present made a change in the existing situation. There is nothing to justify a Motion for the Adjournment.
§ Mr. BUCHANANThere are 72 tenants in the Clydebank constituency who are to be evicted from their homes this week. That situation is likely to cause a grave breach of the peace, and may I ask whether in view of that situation I am justified in moving the Adjournment?
§ Mr. PRINGLEIs the proper time to discuss the question of the Adjournment during Questions, or at the end of Questions?
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt is usual at the end of Questions.
§ At the end of Questions:
§ Mr. BUCHANANIn view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply given by the Secretary for Scotland in reference to the evictions which are pending in Scotland, I desire to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House at a quarter past eight this evening to call attention to a definite matter of urgent public importance.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThis is not a matter on which the Adjournment can be asked under Standing Order No. 10. The hon. Member is dealing with a situation which, as I understand, does not arise out of any act of the present Minister, but arises from something in which the present Minister has taken no part. It is only for something alleged to be done or left undone on the part of a Minister that the Adjournment can be asked.
§ Mr. BUCHANANIn view of the situation of grave disorder which is likely to arise owing to the impending eviction of these 72 people, and in view of your previous rulings granting the Adjournment when similar things have happened in Russia or Germany, why cannot we have 2130 the Adjournment now? I have heard the Adjournment given on much less important things.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member must not refer to any of my rulings in that way.
§ Mr. BUCHANANI am sorry if I have misunderstood you, but in view of the fact that 72 people in the constituency of Clyde Bank are on the point of being evicted from their homes, and in view of the fact that the Secretary for Scotland holds out to those people no hope of immediate action to keep them in their homes, do not these circumstances constitute a matter of urgent public importance at the present moment?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI do not think that they do under the Rule.
§ Mr. MILLSMay I ask the Leader of the House, in view of the facts brought to our notice by the hon. Member for Gorballs (Mr. Buchanan), what steps he proposes to take to deal with the continued obstruction to the Rent Restrictions Bill upstairs?
§ Mr. SPEAKERNot at this stage.