§ Mr. Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh and Berwickshire)I seek leave under Standing Order No. 120 to introduce a petition.
I think that the whole House will agree that last Tuesday we had an effective and successful lobby on overseas aid. The petition comes from well over 100 of my constituents who, but for their personal difficulties, would have associated themselves with that lobby and accompanied those of my constituents who came to London to make their points on overseas aid. Instead, my constituents have sent a petition that deals in detail with three points: first, the need to increase Britain's aid budget; secondly, the need to reduce the overwhelming level of debt in Third world countries; and, thirdly, the need to make trade with Third world countries much fairer.
The prayer at the end of the petition reads:
Wherefore your petitioners pray that your honourable House do urge the Right Honourable Timothy Raison MP, the Minister for Overseas Development, to take action on these items.I should like to associate myself with the terms of the petition.
§ To lie upon the Table