HC Deb 17 February 1969 vol 778 cc35-6
Mr. Christopher Mayhew (Woolwich, East)

On a point of order. I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House under Standing Order No. 9 on a specific and important matter which should have urgent consideration, namely, the disclosure that Her Majesty's Government are negotiating with the Israeli Government for the sale of arms to Israel for use in conquered Arab territories. I submit that this is a plain specific matter, and that its importance is self-evident. There will be no chance of a peaceful settlement to the dispute unless Israel withdraws from the conquered Arab territories. To sell arms to Israel at this moment will strengthen and en courage her in her refusal to withdraw and may, indeed, be used not only for external military operations, but in the suppression of civilian Arab populations in Gaza and other occupied territories—

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Gentleman is drifting into the merits of what he wants to debate.

Mr. Mayhew

In conclusion, therefore, I submit that this is also an urgent matter, since this arms deal may be concluded at any moment and the danger of the escalating war in the Middle East is real and immediate.

Mr. Speaker

I am grateful to the hon. Member for Woolwich, East (Mr. Mayhew) for letting me know this morning that he would seek an emergency debate. He asks leave to move the Adjournment of the House for the purposes of discussing a specific and important matter that he thinks should have urgent consideration, namely, the disclosure that Her Majesty's Government are negotiating with the Israeli Government for the sale of arms to Israel for use in conquered Arab territories. As the House knows, under the revised Standing Order No. 9, Mr. Speaker is directed to take into account the several factors set out in the Standing Order, but to give no reasons for his decision. I have given careful consideraion to the representations of the hon. Member, but I have to rule that his submission does not fall within the provision of the revised Standing Order and that, therefore, I cannot submit his application to the House.

Mr. Emanuel Shinwell (Easington)

On a point of order—

Mr. Speaker

Order. We have established the convention that there is no question, when Mr. Speaker refuses an application under Standing Order No. 9, of our debating the matter. I hope that the right hon. Gentleman will not break it.

Mr. Shinwell

My point is that, in the circumstances and in view of the statements made by my hon. Friend the Member for Woolwich, East (Mr. Mayhew), would it not be desirable to have a debate? If there were a debate, I would "take the trousers off him".

Mr. Speaker

What the right hon. Gentleman is doing in the first part of that question is trying to suggest that Mr. Speaker was wrong in not allowing an Adjournment under Standing Order No. 9. I have nothing to do with either hon. Members' trousers.