HC Deb 06 December 1961 vol 650 cc1389-91
Mr. W. Yates

Mr. Speaker. I beg to ask leave to move, under Standing Order No. 9, the adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, the nationalisation of 6,000 British firms in Iraq by decree of Major-General Kassem, Prime Minister of Iraq, dated 5th December, 1961. On matters like this, Mr. Speaker, since I wish to interfere in Government business, or to seek priority over Government business, it is required of me that I should show that the matter is definite. I think that the House and the country are aware that the Leader of Iraq said that he was going to declare open war on British interests in the Middle East. Reported in The Times this morning is a statement of nationalisation. To be more certain in the matter, I took the trouble to see the representative of that newspaper here, and he confirmed that that is correct.

Is this matter urgent? I do not know how long it is since the House paid attention to the breakdown of negotiations in Iraq and probably the threatened nationalisation of the Iraq Petroleum Company. This country is deeply involved. In view of the tense situation in Kuwait earlier this year, and of a meeting of the defence committee this morning, I think that the matter is urgent.

Is it of public importance that 6,000 British firms are nationalised by decree? I think that most hon. Members who know the Middle East realise that the majority of these small firms are doing their best to help our export trade. They are our representatives out there and the people upon whom we rely to obtain our business and to help us to do all that we can to sell British goods in that country. As many of the businesses are ancillary to the Iraq Petroleum Company, the Mosul Petroleum Company and others, I suggest that, instead of debating the question of immigrants, this matter should have priority and that we should have a debate immediately on British interests which are now threatened in Iraq.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member asks leave to move the adjournment of the House under Standing Order No. 9, for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, the nationalisation of 6,000 British firms in Iraq by decree of Major-General Kassem, Prime Minister of Iraq, dated 5th December, 1961. The hon. Gentleman was good enough to give me warning of his intention to do this, and I made some inquiries, the result of which appeared to be that the relevant legislation was made a long time ago. I wonder whether anyone can help me about the facts of that, because it matters.

Mr. Yates

It is quite clear, I would suggest to you, Sir, that the majority of us here wish to have the best possible relations with the Iraq Government and people. However, the policy of their present Government recently has been—

Mr. Speaker

I did not make myself plain. No doubt the subsidiary legislative operation in Iraq was dated 5th December, but the point is the empowering legislation to do this. Can the hon. Gentleman help me about the date of that? That is what I want to get at.

Mr. Yates

I spoke to the Foreign Office about it this afternoon and I cannot help you, Mr. Speaker, on that point. This is a very important matter. We are here concerned with British interests over twenty-five years. As I understand the Government of Iraq, the normal procedure is that, once the President has made a decree under the present laws, it is law.

Mr. G. Brown

They applied from yesterday.

The Lord Privy Seal (Mr. Edward Heath)

I have been racking my memory, Mr. Speaker. I find that the relevant legislation was passed in February, 1960. and that, when it is implemented, firms receive, in some cases, six months in which to comply and, in other cases, twelve months.

Mr. Speaker

In view of that, I could not accept the Motion because it would not be within the Standing Order.