HC Deb 23 June 1976 vol 913 cc1596-7
Mr. Michael Morris

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 which should have urgent consideration, namely, the water shortage in England and Wales". You will be aware, Mr. Speaker, of the Private Notice Question I was granted on 3rd May. The Minister stated at that time that the problem was localised, but his assessment was subject to average rainfall this summer.

Mr. Speaker

Order. I rise for two reasons—first, to ensure that I hear the hon. Member and, secondly, to ask him to set a good example for future applications under Standing Order No. 9. I hope that he will merely state the facts and the grounds for urgency. Standing Order No. 9 applications are becoming very much like Ten-Minute Bills, and that is not the intention of the Order. The hon. Gentleman has not been guilty. I am just making an appeal to him in time.

Mr. Morris

The specific nature of my request is that the water shortage is self-evident to us all. The importance is even more self-evident. The domestic consumer, industry, commerce and, not least, the production of food need water.

The urgency is paramount and dictated by the escalating scale of the problem, Only a few weeks ago, it was a localised problem, but yesterday, in answer to a parliamentary Question, I was told that there are now 26 drought orders affecting 17 counties—nearly one-third of the country. The public has a right to know that the Government are making urgent contingency plans to meet this shortage.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member for Northampton, South (Mr. Morris) asks leave to move the Adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that he thinks should have urgent consideration, namely, the water shortage in England and Wales". As the House knows, under Standing Order No. 9 I am directed to take account of the several factors set out in the Order but to give no reason for my decision.

The hon. Member was good enough to send me details of this application, and I am much obliged to him. I have given careful consideration to all the representations he has made, but I have to rule that his submission does not fall within the provisions of the Standing Order and, therefore, I cannot submit his application to the House.