HC Deb 18 February 1971 vol 811 cc2138-40
Mr. Arthur Lewis

On a point of order. I am sorry, Mr. Speaker, but I have given you two notices with regard to a Standing Order No. 9 Motion and a third one in the House only about two hours ago. 1 thought that probably as the Standing Order says that if a Member wants to raise a matter under Standing Order No. 9 he should give notice to Mr. Speaker, you might, having had three notices, have called me. What is the position?

Mr. Speaker

It is a matter for the discretion of the Chair.

Mr. Lewis

Then 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——

Mr. Speaker

It is within my discretion whether I accept such a Motion. I do not accept it. Mr. Roy Jenkins.

Mr. Lewis

I am sorry, but I went to the Table Office and inquired and I was advised that under the Standing Order an hon. Member is entitled to move and Mr. Speaker must listen to the submissions. Mr. Speaker may, of course, refuse, but I suggest with respect that you should not refuse to hear me, even after I have given you three notices that I intended to raise the subject. You may or may not wish to hear me, but that is not for you to decide but for the House.

Mr. Speaker

I will certainly hear the hon. Gentleman. I would ask him to have mercy on the House. We have a very important debate ahead.

Mr. Lewis

I accept that, Mr. Speaker, but I also would ask you to give me the same consideration as you give to other hon. Members.

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 on the part of the Home Secretary to take action to ensure compliance with the reasonable request of the Trades Union Congress that vehicular traffic in Oxford Street and Regent Street should be banned on Sunday, 21st February, when over 100,000 of Her Majesty's loyal subjects who are active trade unionists will be marching, the Home Secretary thus failing to take full and adequate precautions to prevent interference with the demonstrators, and bearing in mind the disorders that will take place as a result of this refusal.

Hon. Members

Oh.

Mr. Lewis

Oh, yes.

I intended to move my Motion formally, Mr. Speaker, but as you have decided upon it without hearing it I want, as is customary, to submit a few points.

First, I submit that the Motion is most definite and most specific. It is urgent and it is of public importance. [Interruption.] There is no doubt that there will definitely be a demonstration of 100,000 people in London on Sunday. [Interruption.]

Mr. Speaker

Order. I ask the House to let the hon. Gentleman proceed.

Mr. Lewis

I am very much obliged, Mr. Speaker.

This is a responsible demonstration being organised by the most responsible Trades Union Congress. It is known that the demonstration will be going down Oxford Street and Regent Street, which are normally congested with traffic. Therefore, the matter is definite.

Now I come to the grounds of urgency. This is late Thursday afternoon, and there will be no opportunity between now and Sunday for the matter to be debated unless we have a debate between now and tomorrow. Therefore, there is obviously urgency.

Third, on the grounds of public importance, the matter which is of import is the fact that millions of Her Majesty's loyal subjects have found it impossible to raise through the usual channels of their Parliamentary representatives their objections to the pernicious Industrial Relations Bill. This is the only means whereby they can exercise their democratic rights to show what they feel about the matter, because the Government have guillotined any discussion.

We know from experience that when a few thousand people are liable to attend a demonstration on the occasion of a State visit the police can and do stop the traffic for the period of that State visit. We know that as can happen, has happened, and is likely to happen, when 100,000 people march down Regent Street and Oxford Street and motorists get a little bit exasperated there may be trouble.

Sir G. Nabarro

Hear. Hear.

Mr. Lewis

There was an occasion recently when a farmer illegally squirted offensive liquid over a striker's car. I am not suggesting that the trade unionists would do that, but the urgency and importance of the matter is in the fact that if there is an attempt either to force the traffic through or to defend the marchers there could be serious trouble.

Therefore, as the Home Secretary himself has said that he realises the great difficulties with which the police will be confronted, the matter should be debated so that we can tell the Home Secretary and the police that we feel that the marchers should have their democratic rights ensured.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Arthur Lewis) asks for leave to move the Adjournment of the House under Standing Order No. 9 for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter which he thinks should have urgent consideration, namely The refusal on the part of the Home Secretary to take action to ensure compliance with the reasonable request of the Trades Union Congress that vehicular traffic in Oxford Street and Regent Street should be banned on Sunday, 21st February, when over 100,000 of Her Majesty's loyal subjects who are active trade unionists will be marching, the Home Secretary thus failing to take full and adequate precautions to prevent interference with demonstrators, and bearing in mind the disorders that will take place as a result of this refusal. As the hon. Gentleman knows, under Standing Order No. 9, Mr. Speaker is required to take into account the several factors set out in the Order but to give no reasons for his decision. I have taken into account the representations which the hon. Gentleman has made to me, but I have to rule that his submission does not fall within the Standing Order and I therefore cannot submit his Motion to the House.