§ Mr. Ian LloydI 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, 1329
the decision of Her Majesty's Government to support the draft resolution of the Security Council on Mozambique tabled at the United Nations by Her Majesty's Government's representative yesterday.It is a specific matter because it involves the immediate expenditure of sums of the order of £15 million to £20 million and it could be an open-ended commitment for very much more. It is also specific because it involves a major payment across the exchanges and because the whole sum, in the present economic circumstances of this country, will have to be borrowed.It is important because the action involves the British Government making a large payment to a Government who, under a decree published in Mozambique on 7th February, expropriated British property without compensation. It is also important because it involves the British Government helping to finance a regime which has declared publicly its intention to cause economic chaos in Rhodesia and, if necessary, to bring terrorist war to a British territory. It is important because it brings into question the credibility of the Government's posture in international affairs generally and African affairs in particular. It is important because of the state of chaos in Mozambique and because it is almost certain that no effective control can be exercised over the expenditure of this money.
§ Mr. John MendelsonOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. If the hon. Member for Havant and Waterloo (Mr. Lloyd) wishes to make his case in this way, I claim the right to reply. He is not making an application under Standing Order No. 9. He is making an attack on the Government.
§ Mr. SpeakerIt is always a fine point whether an hon. Member is arguing his case or submitting an application under Standing Order No. 9. The hon. Member for Havant and Waterloo (Mr. Lloyd) could see that I was restless. I hope that he will realise that he must not argue his case now. He may only give reasons why he believes that this subject should have precedence over the business of the day.
§ Mr. LloydI am grateful to you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate your difficulty. I have only two more criteria of importance to put before the House.
The Government's decision will exacerbate the situation in Rhodesia and have exactly the opposite effect to that which the Government and many hon. Members on both sides desire.
Finally, this House should have the earliest possible opportunity to judge what is, in the opinion of many hon. Members and many of my constituents, the most catastrophic foreign policy decision since Chamberlain went to Munich.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Hon. Members should realise that all comments are automatically addressed to the Chair. Hon. Members must not describe me as a friend of anyone.
The hon. Member for Havant and Waterloo 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 decision of Her Majesty's Government to support the draft resolution of the Security Council on Mozambique tabled at the United Nations by Her Majesty's Government's representative yesterday.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.I have given careful consideration to the representations the hon. Gentleman has made, but I have to rule that his submission does not fall within the provisions of the Standing Order and that therefore I cannot submit his application to the House.