SECURITY (Hansard, 9 May 1961)

§ Mr. Marsh
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I desire to move the Adjournment of the House under Standing Order No. 9 on a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, the need for the Prime Minister to give an assurance that all appropriate steps are being taken to strengthen Government security and that counter-espionage measures are being taken to prevent a recurrence of the case recently raised at the trial of George Blake. It was my indention yesterday to attempt to move the Adjournment of the House on this matter, but urgent issues arising out of the latter part of the fourteenth century intervened and made that impossible. I think that it would be accepted by both sides of the House that there is extreme public anxiety over the state of the nation's security services at the present time. It is also, I think, accepted by both sides of the House that this is a matter of extreme urgency. I think, too, that persons of all views would accept that where about six major 225 breaches in the security of the nation have occurred in a matter of weeks—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I am unable to allow the hon. Member to make the speech which he would make were his application to be granted. I am sure that he will follow that and bear it in mind.

§ Mr. Marsh
I appreciate that, Mr. Speaker, and I accept your Ruling. May I, therefore, make the point briefly?
Many hon. Members believe that the Prime Minister would welcome an opportunity to deal with a matter which is so urgent, that it is impossible to deny the public importance of this, and that after this length of time the public are entitled to know exactly what measures Her Majesty's Government intend to take to meet this position.

§ Mr. Speaker
The hon. Member asks leave to move the Adjournment of the House to discuss a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, the need for the Prime Minister to give an assurance that all appropriate steps are being taken to strengthen Government security and that counter-espionage measures are being taken to prevent a recurrence of the case recently raised at the trial of George Blake. I am unable to hold that this falls within the Standing Order.