HC Deb 31 July 1930 vol 242 cc708-9
Mr. BROCKWAY

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 decision of the Government to limit the membership of the British delegation at the forthcoming Indian Conference to the members of the Government and nominees of the Conservative and Liberal parties.

Mr. SPEAKER

Before coming to a decision whether I shall allow the hon. Member to move the Motion for the Adjournment, I should like to say that I am under the impression that he gave me notice the other day that he was going to raise the question on the Appropriation Bill. Am I right or am I wrong?

Mr. BROCKWAY

Yes, Sir, I did give you such notice, but I thought that this was the more appropriate method of dealing with the particular issue. I had intended on the Appropriation Bill to discuss the wider issue.

Mr. SPEAKER

I am afraid that I cannot consider a Motion for the Adjournment if the hon. Member had already decided beforehand to raise the question on the Appropriation Bill.

Mr. BROCKWAY

My intention was to raise the wider issue on the Appropriation Bill and not the restricted issue of this Motion.

Mr. SPEAKER

The hon. Member has had his chance in regard to a Motion for the Adjournment.

Mr. MAXTON

Did not the discussion which took place here yesterday indicate that this was a matter of urgency and a matter upon which the opinion of the House should be tested? An opportunity is not available upon an Appropriation Bill, but is available on the Motion for the Adjournment. Does that not constitute urgency in this matter?

Mr. SPEAKER

On the discussion which took place yesterday afternoon and which was raised by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for West Birmingham (Sir A. Chamberlain), I only said that I could not give a decision upon the matter then because it was not allowed under the Standing Order. I said that I would consider it on its merits to-day and that it would not be prejudiced on the matter of urgency because it had to be put off a day. I was only going to consider that matter on its merits to-day.