HC Deb 11 November 1926 vol 199 cc1267-8
Mr. LAWSON

I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, "the failure of the Minister of Health to take steps to deal with the serious situation arising from the Castle Ward decision."

Mr. SPEAKER

That is not a Motion which I can put to the House. It is quite clear that if the hon. Member wants to make an alteration in the law which is complained of, other steps must be taken.

Mr. LAWSON

What we are asking is that the Minister of Health should take steps to discourage the guardians in the action they are taking and should use his undoubted influence with the guardians to prevent them from creating a serious situation. The Minister knows that hundreds of thousands of ex-service men will be made vagrants and criminals by this decision.

Mr. MACLEAN

May I ask if the question raised by the hon. Member for Chester-le-Street (Mr. Lawson) is one, not of changing the law, but of criticising the administration, and is a notice of Motion on this line not in order?

Mr. SPEAKER

This applies to the action of the local authority, and not of the Minister.

Mr. MACLEAN

Is not the hon. Member criticising, or endeavouring to criticise, the action of a board of guardians acting under the instructions of the Minister, and, as these instructions have been given by the Minister, are we not entitled to criticise?

Mr. STEPHEN

This local authority has taken a certain action under a law which many of us consider to be obsolete, and by reason of them taking action there has developed a very serious situation. Surely, in view of the consequences arising from this action, it is possible for this House to press the Minister to consider the immediate introduction of legislation to repeal this law, which was considered to be obsolete.

Mr. SPEAKER

Not under Standing Order No. 10. The hon. Member must find some other means of pressing the Minister.

Mr. BECKETT

Might I point out that the authority whose action the hon. Member for Chester-le-Street (Mr. Lawson) is questioning is not a locally-elected authority, but is one set up over our constituents by the Minister himself. The previous elected board of guardians was suspended for certain action, and we now want the Minister to use the same power of this House to deal with the board which he has set up as he did to deal with the board our people elected some time ago.

Mr. SPEAKER

I have given my ruling, and I cannot argue the matter with the hon. Member.