§ The Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. John Biffen)With permission, Mr. Speaker, I should like to make a short business statement.
The business for tomorrow will now be a debate on the Falkland Islands, on a motion for the Adjournment of the House.
The business originally set down for that day will be taken on another occasion.
§ Mr. Michael Foot (Ebbw Vale)I thank the right hon. Gentleman and the Government for arranging a debate. I presume that the debate will open with a statement by the Government giving the fullest possible account, from the Government's point of view, of the stage that has been reached in the peace discussions and the attempts to secure a peaceful settlement. Will the debate start with a description of the present stage of such discussions?
§ Mr. BiffenThat is the intention.
§ Mr. Stokesrose—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I shall call both hon. Members and then move to the second statement.
§ Mr. StokesIs my right hon. Friend aware that during the whole of the battle of El Alamein during the last war the House was not once recalled, nor was there a single statement? Can my right hon. Friend say what good he thinks tomorrow's debate will do and what good the fifth debate did last week?
§ Mr. BiffenI do not share my hon. Friend's view about the constructive role that the House is able to play in this matter. There, I fear, the matter must rest.
§ Mr. WinnickAs the country is fortunately not involved in a world war—as implied by the hon. Member for Halesowen and Stourbridge (Mr. Stokes)—will the Leader of the House assure us that, before any military invasion of the Falkland Islands, the House will be informed and a debate will take place?
§ Mr. BiffenThat is precisely the kind of point that should be made in tomorrow's debate.