HC Deb 18 January 1972 vol 829 cc221-3
Mr. Pardoe

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 crisis now facing the whole of the South-West of England. Our coasts have been further fouled as a result of the sinking of the Spanish freighter "Germania" four weeks ago off the Channel Islands, with the arrival of its highly dangerous cargo on Cornish and Devon beaches. A new turn of events has taken place since yesterday on this extremely important matter, namely, that we have for the first time the manifest of the cargo on this ship. It is clear as a result of the reports of this cargo and its contents that the South-West, and particularly Cornwall, is facing a far more dangerous crisis than was caused by the "Torrey Canyon", because over 1,000 drums of chemicals went down with the ship. Only about 100 drums have so far arrived on our beaches and been recovered. There are 374 drums of highly toxic T.D.I., and 286 drums of sodium cyanide. This is why I say that it is the most important and dangerous pollution disaster to have faced Cornwall or, indeed, this country this century.

We had no statement yesterday, much to my surprise. We had no statement again today, although I have had a telephone conversation with the Secretary of State for the Environment, who was very courteous. But that was hardly a substitute. We have not been told by the Government either outside or inside the House, how serious they believe this crisis to be. We have not been told how dangerous these chemicals are, either when concentrated or when mixed with sea water. We have not been told by the Government what the population in the areas affected should do. We have not been told what advice the Government are giving or how widespread the crisis is, nor have we been told anything about whether we can continue to eat fish caught from these waters.

None of these questions has been answered. Unless we have a far-reaching debate in the very near future, none of them will be answered to the satisfaction of those in the far South-West. Perhaps the Government do not have many of the answers to these questions, but at least the House ought to be told that.

You have said, Mr. Speaker, on recent occasions in answer to applications under Standing Order No. 9 that you simply have to decide whether the matter ought to take priority over the business of the House. Mr. Speaker, Cornwall has now, for the second time, borne the brunt of a major pollution disaster at sea. It is important not only to Cornwall and Devon, however, because there are very few beaches in constituencies represented by hon. Members of the House that are entirely safe from this latest disaster. If the wrong actions are taken now this cargo may be washed up gradually year by year on beaches around a wide section of British coasts. If the House refuses to debate this matter and give it the priority over other business of the House, Cornwall will have a right to feel affronted and deeply angered.

Mr. Speaker

I am grateful to the hon. Member for Cornwall, North (Mr. Pardoe) for having given me notice of his intention to raise this matter. He has very clearly stated it. He has already stated the attitude which I take up to these applications. Without doubt this is a serious matter. I simply have to decide whether it should be debated under Standing Order No. 9 in the immediate future. I regret that I cannot accept the application.