HC Deb 09 December 1929 vol 233 cc42-3
Mr. MOND

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 action of the Government in permitting the British Ambassador to the Union of Soviet Republics to leave for his post before effect has been given to the terms of paragraph 9 of the Protocol.

Mr. SPEAKER

I cannot accept that Motion, as it does not comply with Standing Order No. 10 as regards urgency.

Mr. MOND

In reply to the question of urgency, the Ambassador left yesterday, and this is the very earliest possible moment at which I could have raised the point.

Mr. SPEAKER

Even so, I do not think that it comes within the terms of the Standing Order.

Mr. MOND

On that point, unless the matter is taken now, the Ambassador cannot be recalled before he reaches Moscow.

Captain MACDONALD

Does this not raise an important point of constitutional practice, and is it not very important that this House should have an opportunity of discussing it?

Mr. SPEAKER

I am not prepared to decide on the merits of the question. The only point I have to decide at the moment is the urgency of it from the point of view of Standing Order No. 10.

Captain EDEN

May I call your attention to the fact that the right hon. Gentleman the Foreign Secretary to-day, in reply to a question, for the first time ruled that "Parliament," as expressed in the Protocol, referred only to the House of Commons? Surely, that is a definite matter of urgent public importance.

STATEMENT showing the quantity and value of motor cars imported into British India during the years shown from the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States of America.
Country of consignment. Quantity (Number).
1923–24. 1924–25. 1925–26. 1926–27. 1927–28.
United Kingdom … … 1,005 1,682 2,399 2,546 3,600
Canada … … 3,290 3,956 4,775 4,476 3,400
United States of America … … 2,865 3,106 4,143 4,030 6,031
Value in Rs.
United Kingdom … … 45,33,674 60,89,293 77,69,825 80,42,233 1,02,54,925
Canada … … 64,56,633 65,54,187 72,46,485 70,19,723 63,17,775
United States of America … … 69,44,209 73,45,593 90,51,664 88,99,808 1,34,50,812