§ Lieut.-Colonel ElliotMr. Speaker, I desire to draw your attention to an entry in the OFFICIAL REPORT today which I think will require correction. It is in Column 1018, and the entry is made there, about three parts down the column, "Amendment negatived." The Amendment in question was that moved by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for the Pollok Division of Glasgow (Commander Galbraith), in column 991, and the Minister, at column 993, said he would be prepared to accept this Amendment though he was not prepared to accept subsequent Amendments, which was stated in column 994. The Question, I think, was put by the Deputy-Chairman and was agreed to by the Committee, and the Amendment was, in fact, made but the OFFICIAL REPORT indicates that the Amendment was not made.
We are fortunate in having also "The Times" report of this which gives, I think, the accurate statement. It says:
The first amendment, permitting a landlord to appear before a tribunal, was agreed to. The second amendment was negatived by 269 votes to 97.I think the confusion may have arisen owing to the growing practice of including a number of Amendments in one discussion, and subsequently dividing upon them separately, but I put it to you, Sir, that it would be well that this incorrect statement should be put right.
§ Mr. SpeakerI can assure the right hon. and gallant Gentleman that the mere fact that he has raised that point will automatically put the matter right. I think the right hon. and gallant Gentleman said that it was a mistake in the Official Report. HANSARD is not an official report. It is, I hope, as accurate an account of our proceedings as possible. The official report is one which it is my duty, the House remembers, by Resolution passed at the beginning of every Session, to peruse daily. I did peruse the official report, which is the accurate one, and it says "Another Amendment made," which is the correct wording. Therefore, officially the Amendment is correct and in order, and I hope that what I have said, and what the right hon. and gallant Gentleman has said, will ensure that the matter is put right in HANSARD.
§ Lieut.-Colonel ElliotI am sure you will agree, Mr. Speaker, that it is desirable that it should be put right in this perhaps less official report, but one which is accepted as very accurate by the majority of the people of this country.
§ Mr. SpeakerI quite agree with the right hon. and gallant Gentleman. I do my best to see that HANSARD is as accurate as possible, but one cannot always ensure, in difficult circumstances, that it is quite accurate.
§ Earl WintertonMay I call your attention, Mr. Speaker, to the fact that there is obviously a mistake in the description Of HANSARD, because it is always published as the "Official Report." In view of what you have said, perhaps you will call the attention of the Editor to the fact that it is not the official report?
§ Mr. SpeakerI am obliged to the noble Lord for drawing my attention to that fact. There is no question about it. HANSARD is not the official report. This is the official record—the Votes and Proceedings—which I have in my hand.