Part of the debate – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 1 Chwefror 1954.
The right hon. Gentleman asks leave to move the Adjournment of the House under Standing Order No. 9 for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely,
The conclusion of a trade and finance Agreement with the Government of Japan which, for the first time since the war, permits the entry of a wide range of Japanese consumer goods into the United Kingdom.
I understand that this Agreement has been made and, therefore, I find it impossible to bring this Motion within the Standing Order on the ground of urgency. The Agreement has been signed and there is nothing that the House can do about it now, except possibly to dismiss the Government who have made it—[Hon. Members: "Hear, hear."]—if that be the will of the House. That is a process which can take place just as well on some future day as it can today, and I do not feel that in those circumstances I should be justified in interrupting the
Orders of the Day or finding this Motion within Standing Order No. 9.