§ Mr. SandysOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I beg to ask 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, 240
the declaration of the terrorist organisations in Aden that they intend to step up their campaign of violence and murder during the imminent visit of the United Nations Mission and their threats to anyone in Aden who cooperates with the Mission, and the consequent urgent need to cancel the visit, which, in any circumstances, could have produced no constructive result and can, under present conditions, only have the effect of endangering the lives of innocent citizens.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe right hon. Gentleman 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 declaration of the terrorist organisations in Aden that they intend to step up their campaign of violence and murder during the imminent visit of the United Nations Mission and their threats to anyone in Aden who cooperates with the Mission, and the consequent urgent need to concel the visit, which, in any circumstances, could have produced no constructive result and can, under present conditions, only have the effect of endangering the lives of innocent citizens.I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for his characteristic courtesy in informing me that he might be seeking to raise this under Standing Order No. 9. I think that I must hold that this application clearly deals with a continuing situation and that, in so far as a specific matter is raised, it could have been raised on an earlier occasion.The visit of the United Nations Mission has been in prospect for some time now. Furthermore, the threats by the nationalist organisations to disrupt the work of the Mission and create disturbances do not appear to be new.
I find that as far back as 6th December of last year statements were quoted in The Times similar to those which appear in this morning's Press.
For these reasons, the application to move the Adjournment does not comply with the conditions of the Standing Order as these have been interpreted by the Chair and I cannot allow the application to be put to the House this afternoon.
§ Mr. SandysThank you, Mr. Speaker.