HC Deb 09 March 1978 vol 945 cc1619-20
Mr. Heller

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I should like your advice. On a number of occasions many of my hon. Friends from Merseyside have made requests for debates on the Floor of the House on the problems of Merseyside. We are not the official Opposition, so we are unable to have a Supply Day. Nor are we able to take the argument to the Welsh Grand Committee or the Scottish Grand Committee, and no such Committee exists for Merseyside. Therefore, all we can do is to ask the Lord President for a debate on what is fast becoming almost a disaster area for unemployment.

In view of the difficulties that we as Back Benchers have in properly raising problems and having them debated—not in an Adjournment debate of half an hour, but properly debated on the Floor of the House—how can we ensure that we get a proper debate so that we may explain and argue the necessity for immediate and urgent action to be taken on the problem?

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Gentleman is an experienced parliamentarian. He knows that I am in no position to advise him how to obtain a debate on the Floor of the House other than by pursuing it through the normal means open to hon. Members.