§ Sir John Stokes (Halesowen and Stourbridge)I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House, under Standing Order No. 20, for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration, namely,
the action taken by officials of the Customs and Excise department against employees of Walter Somers Ltd., a firm in my constituency, over the export of steel pipes to Iraq.The matter is specific, because three senior managers and seven employees have been interviewed despite the fact that the Government knew of the export order. I gather from the news tapes that three people have been arrested, but not charged.The matter is urgent, because grave disquiet has been caused to the employees and their families. Great anxiety is also felt in the firm and throughout Halesowen.
The matter is important, because arbitrary action of this nature by a Government Department is unusual to say the least when the Government knew all along what was happening. Therefore, I hope that honourable and patriotic men are not pilloried to save the Government's face. For those reasons, I request, Mr. Speaker, that the matter be urgently debated.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Member for Halesowen and Stourbridge (Sir J. Stokes) 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 action taken by Customs and Excise against employes of Walter Somers Limited in his constituency over the alleged Iraqi gun affair.The hon. Gentleman knows that the decision I must take with regard to Standing Order No. 20 applications is whether to give them precedence over the business set down for today or tomorrow. I have listened with care to what he had to say, but I regret that the matter he has raised does not meet the requirements of the Standing Order; I cannot, therefore, submit his application to the House.
§ Mr. Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker, on that subject.
§ Mr. SpeakerNo, I am just taking another application under Standing Order No. 20.