Business of the House
The Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. John Biffen): Yes, Sir. The business for the first week after the Christmas Adjournment will be as follows:
WEDNESDAY 15 JANUARY ·Opposition Day (third allotted day). There will be a debate on an Opposition motion, the subject for debate to be announced.
THURSDAY 16 JANUARY
There will be a debate on the draft Hong Kong Nationality Order in Council (Cmnd. 9367) on a motion for the Adjournment of the House.
Mr. Greville Janner (Leicester, West): Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the return to the United Kingdom of Mr. Bob Astles, who was the right-hand man of that odious murderer Idi Amin? He has been allowed apparently without much question—to return to this country. Is it correct that he has applied for renewal of his British citizenship? If so, will the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that that will not be granted without the House having the opportunity to debate the request? Many hon. Members on both sides of the House would regard Mr. Astles as a most unwelcome member of our citizenry.
Mr. Biffen: There is little that I can say in my capacity as Leader of the House about Mr. Bob Astles. I note the hon. and learned Gentleman's observations and will ensure that his remarks are put to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.
Mr. David Alton (Liverpool, Mossley Hill): The Leader of the House has given an assurance over the past three weeks that he will try to provide time to debate the creation of an Anglo-Irish parliamentary tier. How long will it be before we have a chance to have that debate?
Mr. Biffen: No, I cannot. This is a matter which will require a fairly thoughtful approach. Perhaps some discussions can proceed initially through the usual channels. I shall be in touch with the hon. Gentleman.
Mr. Roland Boyes (Houghton and Washington): Has the Leader of the House had an opportunity to note early- day motion 262, which I and a number of my hon. Friends bring to the attention of the House?
[That this House regrets that the United States of America now has congressional authority to develop new chemical weapons in 1987; notes that this approval is dependent upon the agreement of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation allies; calls upon the Secretary of State for Defence to withhold his agreement* and demands that he encourages his counterparts in other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries to do likewise.]
The motion brings to the attention of the House that the president of the United States of America how has Congressional authority to develop a new range of chemical weapons commencing in 1987. This is dependent upon the support of the NATO allies. Will the right hon. Gentleman make time available to debate this important issue in view of the widespread public abhorrence of these obscene weapons?
Mr. Biffen: I shall, of course, draw the attention of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to the point that the hon. Gentleman makes, which I know is one of considerable general interest.
DATE
19/12/85.
COL 573-583
VOL.
Vc. 89 No. 32