HC Deb 30 June 1969 vol 786 cc46-7
Mr. Henig

I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House, under Standing Order No. 9. for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration, namely, the situation in Biafra". I appreciate, Mr. Speaker, that you have already been generous this afternoon in allowing a Private Notice Question and further questions and discussion on this matter, but it is sufficiently important, and regarded by the public as such, for the House to have a chance to debate it and put its different points of view.

The Nigerian civil war is a continuing phenomenon, but there is an important new fact, namely, that one party to it which has the means to deal with this has decided that the International Red Cross and International Council of Churches may no longer send in aid to the victims.

The matter is specific, because we have reliable evidence from a number of important eyewitness that millions of people are now starving in Biafra and will die unless immediate action is taken. There certainly seems to be much medical evidence to this effect.

There is urgency in this because, if the House were to wait to debate the matter in the ordinary course of business, as it might well be able to do in a week or two or a month or two, the tragedy that I have been intimating can happen will have happened already, and there will be no point in our debating the matter.

I have always believed that the procedures of the House made it possible for us to give humanity a hearing at moments of supreme crisis like that at present in Biafra and Nigeria. I do not believe that there can be anything in the world more important than the threat of starvation and death for possibly millions of people. Today or tomorrow there is a chance that a debate in this House could lead to alleviation of the situation. By next week it may very well be too late. It is in that spirit that I seek to move the Adjournment.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member for Lancaster (Mr. Henig) gave me notice this morning that he might seek to raise a Standing Order No. 9 matter this afternoon, as did another hon. Gentleman.

The hon. Gentleman asks leave to move the Adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that he thinks should have urgent consideration, namely, the situation in Biafra". I have given careful consideration to his speech, to all that has happened this afternoon, and to the statement of the Minister.

As the House knows, under the revised Standing Order No. 9 I am directed to take account of the several factors set out in the Order, but to give no reason for my decision.

I have given careful consideration to all the representations that have been made, but I have to rule that the hon. Gentleman's submission does not fall within the provisions of the revised Standing Order and, therefore, I cannot submit his application to the House.