§ Mr. EyreOn a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. May I raise with you the matter of the reports which are being received of the dreadful situation in Birmingham and express to you, in view of the extreme feelings of revulsion which are being experienced in the city, a request that the Home Secretary should come to the House at once and make a statement to the House on that situation or that he should give an assurance that a statement will be made first thing tomorrow morning?
§ The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Mr. Denis Howell)Further to that point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. The House would immediately wish the Government to associate themselves with the sentiments expressed, no doubt on both sides of the House, at this totally lunatic and senseless horror that has been perpetrated in Birmingham and to express immediate sympathy with the forces there.
I hope that the House will accept that the Home Secretary, with whom I have been in touch, will certainly want to make a statement to the House at the first possible moment, certainly in the morning. He is, however, unable to do so tonight for the simple reason that it would be unreasonable, in an effort to get the information to give to the House, to disturb the police and the emergency services who, I understand, are acting magnificently in dealing with the situation confronting them in Birmingham. I hope 1670 that the House will accept that statement of the position and will be content to await my right hon. Friend's statement in the morning.
Mr. Deputy SpeakerIn view of the gravity of the situation and the distressing circumstances, I am sure that the House will appreciate that, although it is not a point of order, the Minister would no doubt have been quite ready to give way for this issue to be raised. Since there is nothing that we can do tonight except to await the Home Secretary's statement in the morning, I think that the House should pursue this serious matter tomorrow morning. The House is due to adjourn in two or three minutes. I have no choice in the matter, because I am bound by the rules of the House.
§ Mr. StaintonOn a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. It would have been unconscionable and unpardonable for the House to adjourn tonight and for hon. Members to go home to bed without having made an utterance about this disgusting affair.
Mr. Deputy SpeakerI think that hon. Members on both sides of the House have expressed, and probably will express, their deep feelings on this matter. When more information is available tomorrow morning the House will be in a more considered state of mind to express a judgment on this terrible issue.
§ Mr. EyreI think that, as you said, Mr. Deputy Speaker, it would be desirable for the Home Secretary to make a full statement on this dreadful situation tomorrow. I should like to say how much I appreciate the concern and sympathy expressed by the Minister of State on behalf of all hon. Members in the House and that it will be appreciated in Birmingham.
Mr. Deputy SpeakerMay I make it clear to the House that it was not for me to say whether the Home Secretary should come to the House, but the Minister had already expressed that opinion. I believe that the obvious indignation in the Chamber at present is in itself an expression of what the whole House will feel as the news spreads through the country.
§ Question put and agreed to.
§ Adjourned accordingly at half-past Ten o'clock.