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Message sent on behalf of The Queen, signed on Her Majesty's behalf by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and Her Royal Highness The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowden, brought up, and read by Mr. SPEAKER, as follows:
The Emergency Powers Act, 1920, as amended by the Emergency Powers Act, 1964. having enacted that if it appears to Her Majesty that there have occurred or are about to occur events of such a nature as to be calculated. by interfering with the supply and distribution of food, water, fuel or light, or with the means of locomotion, to deprive the community, or any substantial portion of the community, of the essentials of life. Her Majesty may, by Proclamation, declare that a state of emergency exists:
We Counsellors of State, to whom have been delegated certain Royal functions as specified in Letters Patent dated the 4th day of February. 1972, being of opinion that the present industrial dispute affecting persons employed in the coal mines and the production and distribution of fuel constitutes a state
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of emergency within the meaning of the said Act of 1920 as so amended, have in pursuance thereof made on Her Majesty's behalf a Proclamation dated the 9th day of February, 1972, declaring that a state of emergency exists.
§ Message to be considered tomorrow.—[Mr. Whitelaw.]
§ Mr. SpeakerI wonder whether the hon. Member would wait perhaps till the Home Secretary has made his statement. Perhaps the point of order would be more appropriate then.