Mr. Kinnock: Will the right hon. Gentleman assist the House by ensuring that next Wednesday's debate on Hong Kong on a motion for the Adjournment of the House is extended until midnight so that all hon. Members who wish to hear the debate will be able to do so?
DATE
10/5/84
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59
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Mr. Biffen:
I noted the right hop. Gentleman's remarks about the plans for a debate on Hong Kong. I am sure that he is right in saying that there is widespread interest in the House on that topic, and I believe that it would be appropriate to arrange for the debate to be extended until midnight.
Mr. Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow): Will the Leader of the House be making arrangements for the Prime Minister either to substantiate or to withdraw the statement that she made on "The World this Weekend" about an unnamed Member of the House in regard to intelligence at the beginning of the Falklands war? If nothing happens, will he move a motion to suspend her for five days?
Mr. Biffen: I do not think that I can helpfully add to what the Prime Minister said on Tuesday, nor can I helpfully comment on the hon. Gentleman's final question.
Mr. D. N. Campbell-Savours (Workington): Why should Members of the House of Commons have to put up! with what have now been three cover-ups--one on the Belgrano, the second on the issue of Oman and the third on what happened over the Libyan embassy siege? In the light of what was said at the inquest yesterday, is there not a duty on the Government to carry out the fullest possible inquiries, since it was said at that inquest that the police were informed in advance that violence was to be used? Surely Parliament must now demand and get an investigation from the Government.
Mr. Biffen: I do not for one moment accept the description that the hon. Gentleman gives to the topics to which he referred, but I note his discontent on them which I shall convey to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.
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Mr. John Carlisle (Luton, North): In view of the impending visit to this country of Mr. P. W. Botha, the South African Prime Minister, and of the brave initiative shown by our Prime Minister in inviting him, will the Leader of the House find time for a debate on southern Africa a subject of great interest to many hon. Members which will at least give Conservative Members the opportunity of knowing whether the leaders of the Labour party and the Liberal party view with the same enthusiasm the visit of this international leader as they do their talks with leaders in Moscow?
Mr. Biffen: There is no prospect of a debate on southern Africa in Government time next week or, I suspect, immediately thereafter, but I am sure that my hon. Friend will try again, on his own account, to have the matter raised.