§ Mr. Lawrence TurnerI beg to ask leave to present a humble Petition signed by 1,140 undergraduate members of Oxford University, of both sexes and from most colleges there, for whom at present I have the honour to be spokesman, even if not junior Burgess. The Petition speaks of the hydrogen bomb threat to the existence of our civilisation as we have known it, and all hon. Members of this House will be very much aware of this threat which, indeed, has featured in many of our debates.
The Petition refers also to the moral responsibility of this country in her key position in world politics, and calls for a lead in this matter to avoid the catastrophe of war. The petitioners pray that the Government will make more vigorous efforts in securing disarmament, including the abolition of the hydrogen bomb and such other weapons of mass destruction, with effective international control and inspection.
The Petition concludes with the Prayer:
And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.
§ Sir H. WilliamsOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. As the essential part of the Petition is addressed to Her Majesty's Government and not to this honourable House, is this Petition in order?
§ Mr. SpeakerI think the best course would be to let the Petition in the usual way be referred to the Committee, and they will, no doubt, draw the attention of the House to any irregularities.
§ To lie upon the Table.