§ Mr. George BrownMr. Speaker, I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House under Standing Order No. 9, for the purpose of discussing a 648 definite matter of urgent public importance, namely,
the refusal of Her Majesty's Government to countermand the dispatch of the 19th Brigade Group to Portugal.In the light of what has happened, I will not intrude unduly on the time of the House. Perhaps you will permit me, Mr. Speaker, to urge in support of my claim, first, that we have now had an announcement which removes any dubiety there may have been about the definiteness of the situation; secondly, that we are in order in terms of urgency, because we have raised this at the first opportunity; and, thirdly, that there are no known opportunities open to us to raise this matter; and on that point we have consulted the precedents of the House and the suggestions there laid down.Unless the Government's decision is quickly challenged and quickly changed, there will be no opportunity to take effective action in a matter which is, at the moment, still well within the control of the Executive.
The importance of the matter is, as has been ruled, a matter for the House. On the other hand, I do not think that any of us have any doubt about it. For these reasons, I trust that you will allow me to secure the opportunity this day to consult the feeling of the House in this matter.
§ The pleasure of the House not having been signified, Mr. SPEAKER called on those Members who supported the Motion to rise in their places, and not less than 40 Members having accordingly risen, the Motion stood over, under Standing Order No. 9 (Adjournment on definite matter of urgent public importance), until Seven o'clock this evening.