§ Motion made and Question proposed,
§ That this House do meet on Wednesday, 25th July at Eleven o'clock, that no Questions be taken after Twelve o'clock, and that at Five o'clock Mr. Speaker do adjourn the House without putting any Question.—[Mr. Prior.]
§ 5.19 p.m.
§ Mr. David Crouch (Canterbury)I am concerned that the House should be asked to rise as early as is proposed. There have been occasions when we have found that the pressure of matters to be considered by the House at this time of the year has taken us certainly up to the end of July, and even into the beginning of August.
This has been a busy Session. A number of matters have required a great deal of thought, debate and decision by the House. However, the matter that I want to put before the House concerns my area, and, more generally, the whole of the South-East. One of the reasons that we need to have longer for debate, consideration and decision is what is happening in the South-East, and in particular to the change that we might be creating in the environmental conditions in the South-East.
A number of major decisions lie before us. There is the question of Maplin, the Channel Tunnel, new oil refineries to be situated in the Thames Estuary and the lack of roads in the South-East. I shall 752 not bore the House by going over all these questions in detail. We have had debates on all four matters.
However, we are in danger of losing some of the valuable countryside in the South-East. We are in danger of losing fresh air, the green fields, a large part of the seaside for pleasure purposes, the beaches and, above all, our peace. We are a small enough country in all conscience, and it falls upon us as representatives of the people to think much more widely of the national interest than surely in economic terms. We must all the time take into account environmental considerations.
A Member of Parliament has a duty to consider the national interest at all times. A Member of Parliament today more than ever has a responsibility to speak up with a loud voice for his constituents and the matters that concern them. This applies particularly at a time when the major parties are wielding great party political power to drive through decisions to achieve Government action. However, as Governments do that, either with the acceptance of the Opposition or not, it is still up to individual Members of Parliament to speak with a small voice in this House about the problems which face their constituents.
The problems that I and my constituents face today concern what is happening to the environment of Kent and of the South-East. We are gravely concerned about it.
I do not propose to go into detail about Maplin.
§ Mr. Charles Loughlin (Gloucestershire, West)This is out of order.
§ Mr. Deputy Speaker (Mr. E. L. Mallalieu)The hon. Gentleman may notice that there is a general Question on the Adjournment about to come. The House may wish me to put the Question on the first subject immediately, to dispose of that and to come to the general subject later. If that is the wish of the House, I shall put the Question now.
§ Question put and agreed to.
§ Resolved,
§ That this House do meet on Wednesday 25th July at Eleven o'clock, that no Questions be taken after Twelve o'clock, and that at Five o'clock Mr. Speaker do adjourn the House without outline any Question.