HC Deb 14 May 1973 vol 856 cc1021-3
Mr. Grimond

I, too, Mr. Speaker 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 appointment of Lord Polwarth and a task force of officials supported by a council of membership so far unknown to supervise developments associated with the discovery of oil in the North Sea". This matter is certainly specific in that it was specifically announced by the Prime Minister last Saturday, and it is a reversal of the Government's contention that no new steps need be taken over North Sea oil. It is certainly important, and the Prime Minister himself, in referring to its importance, likened the development of the oil industry to a wartime operation. The whole question of planning in connection with oil and the need for impartial advice are vital to the North of Scotland.

It is of the utmost importance to know Lord Polwarth's terms of reference, powers and the personnel of his council. Will it include impartial and expert advisers on social, economic and environmental questions? Will its findings be made public? Has Lord Polwarth direct access to the Prime Minister and other Ministers over the head of the Secretary of State for Scotland? If so, these powers and the creation of his council go far beyond normal administrative arrangements.

It is urgent in that important decisions are pending at this moment—for instance, at Dunnet Bay. The appointment of Lord Polwarth may have repercussions upon the Shetland County Council's Bill which is before the House and on which a Committee is to be nominated probably this week. In my opinion we should hear at once the Government's exact proposals and the impact they will have upon events which are at this moment taking place. Surely this is a decision which should have been announced to the House of Commons. The House should have been given an opportunity—or should have one now—to discuss it. It should not have been announced at a party conference.

Mr. Speaker

Again, I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for having given me notice of his intention to make this application. I have to take into account all the factors including, perhaps, exchanges at Question Time today. These may be very pertinent matters and pertinent questions. My decision is primarily procedural. I do not believe that it is a matter for debate under Standing Order No. 9.

Mr. Maclennan

I do not seek in any way to cast doubt, Mr. Speaker, upon your decision on the request of the right hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Grimond). I fully understand your views and your decision, but the House is in some difficulty about the Prime Minister's announcement at the weekend for the following reasons, and I say this——

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Member must realise that what the Prime Minister says or does at the weekend is not a matter for the Chair.

Mr. Maclennan

I appreciate that, Mr. Speaker, but the Leader of the House is present and the question I want to ask relates to the tabling of Questions. There are extremely urgent outstanding issues, of which one is the question of the future development of Dunnet Bay, to which the right hon. Gentleman referred. If the Prime Minister's statement is to be understood as transferring responsibility for the oil industry from the Department of Trade and Industry to a junior Minister at the Scottish Office, this makes it extremely difficult for hon. Members to know to whom they should table their Questions.

The Leader of the House is here and could get us out of this difficulty. It is certainly highly anomalous for responsibility to be transferred from a Cabinet Minister in this House to a junior Minister in another place, and it would be helpful, if we do not have an answer today, for the Government to say that they will make a statement at the earliest possible moment.

Mr. Speaker

These seem appropriate matters for business questions on a Thursday.