HC Deb 10 June 1964 vol 696 cc451-3
Mr. Fenner Brockway

I apologise for delaying the House longer, but I think that it will be agreed that the subject which I want to raise is important. I wish to ask your leave, Mr. Speaker, to move the Adjournment of the House under Standing Order No. 9 to consider a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, to enable the Government to state how they are implementing the Resolution adopted yesterday by the Security Council of the United Nations that all States should exercise their influence on the South African Government to grant an amnesty to the defendants of the Rivonia trial where judgments are due to be given tomorrow. I hope that you will allow me in three sentences to submit, with respect, the reasons why this Motion should be accepted.

First, it is clearly a definite matter. The trial is now proceeding and the judgments are due to be announced tomorrow.

Secondly, it is urgent because under the sabotage law if the prisoners are found guilty only death sentences can be given, and influence must be exerted at once if it is to be effective.

Thirdly, it is of public importance. People throughout the world have been deeply moved. A petition has been signed on behalf of 160 million people in all parts of the earth. The Government are directly involved because the Security Council yesterday asked them to exert their influence. This Parliament is involved because one of the prisoners who may be sentenced to death holds a British passport.

For these reasons, I urge that you accept this Motion.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Gentleman asks leave to move the Adjournment of the House under Standing Order No. 9 in order to discuss a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, to enable the Government to state how they are implementing the Resolution adopted yesterday by the Security Council of the United Nations that all States should exercise their influence on the South African Government to grant an amnesty to the defendants of the Rivonia trial where judgments are due to be given tomorrow. I am greatly obliged to the hon. Gentleman, who gave me prior warning of the substance of this so that I could look a little at authority. I am afraid that it does not enable me to accede to his application. I cannot conceive this matter to be within the Standing Order.

Mr. Brockway

May I submit to you, Sir, that this is an urgent matter for the House in that the Government were asked yesterday by the Security Council to use their influence, that we are at the last point where that influence can be exerted, and that the House ought to have a statement on how far they are fulfilling that instruction of the Security Council?

Mr. Speaker

Whether we ought to have the statement or ought not to have it is not a matter for me, or one on which it would be proper for me to pronounce. I have to consider only whether this situation is one which represents a sudden emergency arising in home or foreign affairs. That is the principle on which I have to go. I am afraid that having now looked at the authorities, I do not think that this is so. I am sorry about this.

Mr. Thorpe

As the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Brockway) has indicated, the verdicts in this trial will be arrived at tomorrow. The indications are that sentences will be passed on the nine accused on Friday and it might well be that at that stage you would take the view that there is greater urgency than there is at present. On Friday the House is in this difficulty—if I am correct—that it is impossible to adjourn the House under Standing Order No. 9 on a Friday. In this difficulty, therefore, would it be possible to ask whether the Government will make a statement on Friday, in any event, so as to assist the House which is otherwise debarred from taking any action at all, apart possibly from a Private Notice Question on Friday?

Mr. Speaker

The question which the hon. Member addresses to me does not give rise to a point of order for me. What he has said will be recorded and it has been heard. That is the limit of what I can say about it.

Mr. Taverne

Could you not consider, Mr. Speaker, that these are exceptional circumstances, exceptionally urgent since the Resolution was passed only yesterday and since the British Government are possibly the Government who have the greatest effect and the greatest influence on South Africa and since the time for the granting of an amnesty would be preferably before sentence is delivered, which would be tomorrow? There would, therefore, be no similar circumstances for inquiry into what the Government are doing now and what pressures they are bringing to bear at the moment.

Mr. Speaker

I am sorry, but I have considered this matter and I cannot alter my decision. I have reached a firm conclusion.