§ Mr. SpeakerMr. John Page. To raise a point of order.
§ Mr. John PageOn a point of order. The House will be aware that there is a threat that the Fire Service in Greater London will be withdrawn tomorrow morning between the hours of nine and ten, and six and seven in the evening, leaving the whole area of Greater London potentially unprotected during the most dangerous day of the year.
I understand that an offer has been made to the members of the Fire Service and that a decision on whether this offer should be accepted will be taken at a meeting in Lambeth at 7.30 this evening. I think that it would be wrong both for the House and for the people of London if we did not know what the situation was and what the Home Secretary's contingency plans were before the 835 strike began, if it begins, at nine o'clock tomorrow morning.
My hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Garston (Mr. Fortescue) has agreed that if a settlement has not been reached he will withdraw his Motion for the Adjournment of the House. That would give the Home Secretary an opportunity to make a statement or for the matter to be discussed.
I thought it right to inform you, Mr. Speaker, of this, and also to give the Home Secretary an opportunity of considering this difficult matter, which is a great responsibility on his shoulders.
§ Mr. SpeakerThis is not really a point or order for me to rule upon. We shall be on the Adjournment after the Division on the Amendment today. It will be in order then for any right hon. or hon. Member who catches my eye to raise on the Adjournment whatever matter he wishes for which a Minister is responsible, including the one that the hon. Gentleman has suggested. But it is a matter for hon. Members themselves.