Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 5:38 pm on 27 July 1983.
Mr Bernard Weatherill
, Croydon North East
5:38,
27 July 1983
The hon. Member for Greenwich (Mr. Barnett) seeks 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 decision of the Government to run down the Overseas Development Administration's scientific and special units.
I have listened carefully to what the hon. Gentleman said—as, indeed, has the House. As he knows, under Standing Order No. 10 I am directed to take into account the several factors set out in the order but to give no reasons for my decision. I have given careful thought to the representations that the hon. Member has made but I have to rule that his submission does not fall within the provisions of the Standing Order. Therefore, I cannot submit his application to the House.
An adjournment is a break in the course of parliamentary business.
The House adjourns at the end of each day's business.
On a daily basis the House adjourns, or breaks, half an hour after the moving of the adjournment debate.
The House is also adjourned for several holiday periods during the session.
The more lengthy adjournments - often coinciding with the academic calendar - are known as recesses.
