§ Mr. James Wellbeloved (Erith and Crayford)I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House, under Standing Order No. 9, to debate a specific matter of urgent public importance; namely,
the threatened breakdown of arrangements for the holding of a poll on Thursday 2nd May 1974 for the election of councillors to serve on certain London borough councils.It is a matter of a specific nature because, due to the threatened action by the National Association of Local Government Officers in my borough and in other boroughs within Greater London, there will be a failure to conform to the law over the issue by the returning officer of poll cards, and there is a possibility that there may not be available presiding officers and poll clerks to operate polling stations for the local authority elections.Even an experienced returning officer, such as we have in the London borough of Bexley, with a proven record of efficiency and impartiality in these matters, will find it difficult to discharge his statutory duties if these things come to pass.
The matter is urgent because the House will be rising this week and will not be returning until 29th April, which is but three days before the poll is due to be held for the election of councillors to the 32 London boroughs.
It is a matter of serious public importance because democracy itself is liable to be put to severe test if the new London authorities are not elected as required by law on 2nd May.
It is also a matter of serious public importance because, if for any reason the poll has to be abandoned in any borough or in any ward in any borough, there is no clear procedure for the carrying on of good government in London boroughs if a local authority is not elected
The law passed by this House requires the elections to be held on 2nd May. 456 I have not yet been able to find a Department or one of Her Majesty's Ministers who can accept ministerial responsibility, but surely in the end it must be a matter for this House to take notice of this serious situation.
I hope therefore, Mr. Speaker, that, in view of the serious and urgent nature of this request, you will give consideration to allowing it to have precedence over the Orders of the Day.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Gentleman has certainly raised an important point and I am grateful for the way that he has put it. There are difficulties in allowing a debate under Standing Order No. 9, and I am afraid that I cannot accede to the hon. Gentleman's application. But I very much hope that what he said will be noted.