47
Iran (Lord Privy Seal's
[Mr. Dalyell.]
19 MAY 1980
The issue is of public importance be- cause the Lord Privy Seal's statement is diametrically opposed to the presumably considered and reflected judgment that Her Majesty's Government took only 60 hours ago. The issue is urgent because we have been made to look little more than I do not like to use such language -creatures of the Americans. It appears that we are subject to every pres- sure from Washington. Whether or not one likes that type of language, that degree of amenability to another country would seem to warrant urgent debate.
The issue involves retrospective legisla- tion. Britain's reputation may
be damaged not only in Iran, but throughout the Arab world.
The proposals before us are quite, quite different from those which we dis- cussed last Monday, Tuesday and Wed- nesday. If the Government wish to pro- ceed along the lines of the Minister's statement and if they wish to proceed with what purports to be the Naples agreement, they are honour bound to in- troduce new legislation. The proposals for that legislation should be a matter of extreme urgency.
Mr. Speaker: The hon. Gentleman asks leave to move the Adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that he thinks should have urgent consideration, namely,
the breach of the procedure of the House of Commons by the Government in failing to bring forward new legislation on Iran (Tem- porary Powers) in the light of the Lord Privy Seal's statement and the Government's decision to backdate the imposition of sanctions to 4 November 1979 ".
The House has heard the exchanges that took place. The Lord Privy Seal made clear that a debate would take place, and that this order cannot proceed without a debate. I think that I have not misjudged the situation. [HON. MEMBERS: "No."]--Order. As I under- stood the exchanges, it stated clearly that a debate would be held on the proposals that the Lord Privy Seal had outlined.
Statement)
48
Mr. J. Enoch Powell: On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. With great respect, Mr. Speaker, the Government's statement was to the effect that the House would handle an order made under the the 1939 Act exactly as it would handle an order made under the 1980 Act. In other words, it can be annulled after it has been in force.
Mr. Speaker: Order. I am much obliged to the right hon. Gentleman for that point.
Mr. Jay: Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. I distinctly understood the Minister to say that the order would come into force, and that the House would be able to debate it afterwards. If that is not so, perhaps the Minister will make clear what he said.
The Lord Privy Seal (Sir Ian Gilmour): I think that I said that the timing of this provision would be decided in co-ordina- tion with our partners, and as a result of discussions through the usual channels.
Several Hon. Members rose-
Mr. Speaker: Order. I am in the middle of giving a ruling on a point of order. The hon. Gentleman has sought leave to move the Adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that he thinks should have urgent consideration, namely, the provisions that I earlier read out. I now understand that those provi- sions could come into operation without any discussion in the House. I am satis- fied that the matter raised by the hon. Gentleman is proper to be discussed under Standing Order No. 9.
The leave of the House having been refused, Mr. SPEAKER called on those Members who supported the motion to rise in their places, and not less than forty Members having accordingly risen, the motion stood over, under Standing Order No. 9 (Adjournment on specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration) until the commencement of public business tomorrow.
87 084