HC Deb 18 February 1971 vol 811 cc2135-7
Mrs. Castle

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 refusal of the Secretary of State for Employment to take any action to break the deadlock in the postal workers' dispute".

Mr. Speaker

The right hon. Lady asks leave to move the Adjournment of the House, under Standing Order No. 9, for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter which she thinks should have urgent consideration, namely, the refusal of the Secretary of State for Employment to take any action to break the deadlock in the postal workers' dispute". I am satisfied that the matter raised by the right hon. Lady is proper to be discussed under Standing Order No. 9.

Does the right hon. Lady have the leave of the House?

The leave of the House having been given—

Mr. Speaker

The Motion for the Adjournment will now stand over until the commencement of public business on Monday afternoon, when a debate on the matter will take place for three hours, under Standing Order No. 9(2).

Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

On a point of order. Mr. Speaker. In the light of the acquiescence in the request for leave to move the Adjournment under Standing Order No. 9, the Motion standing over until Monday afternoon, we shall be in some difficulty as regards the debate on the White Paper on Public Expenditure. As you know, we had a two-day debate last year, but on this occasion we have only one day. After the completion of the debate under Standing Order No. 9, we shall have inadequate time left for a proper discussion of the White Paper on Public Expenditure.

Mr. Speaker

That is a point which no doubt the Leader of the House could observe. It is not a point of order.

Mr. William Hamilton

On a point of order. Is it not the case that when we have a Standing Order No. 9 debate the three hours are added on at the end of the debate, so that we carry on the debate on the White Paper on Public Expenditure until 1 o'clock on Tuesday morning? Could the Leader of the House give his view on that?

Mr. Speaker

Order. I do not think that I can allow this, that whenever a Standing Order No. 9 debate is granted there should be an immediate discussion about the other business of the House. The Leader of the House is here. He will know what has happened and will have to take into account, according to his judgment, what should follow from it. We cannot have a series of points of order which really amount to business questions when I have granted a Standing Order No. 9 Motion.

Mr. Hamilton

With due respect, Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the House is here. He could surely give the House an indication. The House has a right to know. We shall be debating public expenditure over the next five years. To have three hours cut off that debate is simply not good enough. As the Leader of the House——

Mr. Speaker

Order. I ask hon. Members to assist in this matter. I have been asked to prevent what are really false points of order. This is not a point of order but a matter for the Leader of the House. He will have an opportunity to make a business statement, if he wants to, at tomorrow's sitting. I must ask the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Stechford (Mr. Roy Jenkins) to proceed.

Mr. Harold Wilson

Further to the point of order. No one wants to put you under such pressure that you will be less willing to accept reasonable Motions for Standing Order No. 9 debates, Mr. Speaker. Would not it be right to leave the matter and proceed to the next business, to give the Leader of the House the opportunity during the course of the evening to reflect on what has been said and, if necessary, to make a business statement at 11 o'clock tomorrow morning?

Mr. Speaker

That is what 1 was venturing to suggest.

Mr. Wellbeloved

On a completely new point of order, Mr. Speaker. You said just now in a Ruling that you have been asked to be rather more strict with points of order. We have noted also that you have curtailed the amount of time on business questions and the number of Members who are called. In view of both those occurrences, may I ask by whom you have been asked? Is it the House or just a small number of hon. Members who have asked this of you, so that you are responding to a minority?

Mr. Speaker

The speeches which were made when I was elected Speaker will be within the hon. Gentleman's recollection.

Mr. Wellbeloved

Not by the House.