Falkland Islands (Hansard, 11 May 1982)

§ Mr. Eric Ogden (Liverpool, West Derby)
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. You will know that it is courteous and the custom in this place that an hon. Member, when he proposes to take certain action at a particular time, tries to give you notice. In doing so last week, I got into certain difficulties. The fact that I have not given you notice now, Mr. Speaker, is not discourtesy but caution.
I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House under Standing Order No. for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration, namely, The conduct, progress and direction of the Foreign Secretary's negotiations to achieve a peaceful resolution of the conflict forced on us by the Argentine invasion and occupation of the British Falkland Islands, the defiance by the Argentine Government of the United Nations Security Council resolution 502 while they have increased their forces of occupation, and the apparent willingness of the Foreign Secretary and his advisers to abandon the three principles of unconditional withdrawal of Argentine forces from the Falkland Islands, the restoration of a British administration for the people of the islands and the right of self-determination for the people of the British Falkland Islands, against the quite specific promises given by the Prime Minister to this House and to the people of the Falkland Islands. All of this, if allowed to continue without this House being able to record what hon. Members believe their rightful concern about the risks now being placed on the British task force by prolonged negotiations, the dangers of a surrender in New York, not an honourable settlement, and the ability of this House, as expressed today to remind the Government that the British Act of Parliament which created the Government of the British Falkland Islands and dependencies cannot be set aside for the convenience of Ministers, however powerful or weak, requires that the House discuss these matters urgently, before the Falkland Islanders are betrayed for a second time with even more disastrous consequences for the freedom and for future of the United Kingdom.

Mr. Speaker
I allowed the hon. Member for Liverpool West Derby (Mr. Ogden) to make his application without notice because I presumed that it arose out of the exchanges this afternoon. Otherwise, it would not have been possible to allow him to move his application. The hon. Gentleman asks leave to move the Adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that he believes should have urgent consideration, namely, The conduct, progress and direction of the Foreign Secretary's negotiations to achieve a peaceful resolution of the conflict forced on us by the Argentine invasion and occupation of the British Falkland Islands.

§ Mr. Dalyell
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker
Order. I am dealing with an application under Standing Order No. 9.
I listened with great care to the arguments of the hon. Member for West Derby, which he adduced from having listened to the exchanges this afternoon, and which arise out of the matters of this afternoon, but I must rule that his submission does not fall within the provisions of the standing order and therefore I cannot submit his application to the House.