HC Deb 20 April 1885 vol 297 cc137-8

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That this House will, To-morrow, resolve itself into Committee upon Post Office Sites [Purchase of Land and Expenses]."—(Mr. Shaw Lefevre.)

MR. HEALY

asked if the Government proposed to set up this Bill tomorrow?

MR. SHAW LEFEVRE

Yes. It is simply a Motion to enable a Bill to be set up in Committee of the Whole House.

MR. HEALY

appealed to the Speaker whether the course proposed to be taken was regular?

MR. SPEAKER

said, there was nothing irregular in it.

MR. HEALY

remarked that if that were so, how was it that the Bill had not been printed?

MR. SPEAKER

I understand that this is the first stage to allow the Bill to be introduced.

MR. SHAW LEFEVRE

This is merely a formal stage in order to enable a financial Bill to be set up.

MR. HEALY

I understand that this is a Money Bill, and I ask why this stage was not taken in the first instance, instead of waiting until after the Bill had been read a second time? I presume that, this being a Money Bill, the Half-past Twelve o'clock Rule would not operate; but really the way in which the measure has been dealt with makes it extremely difficult for the House to understand whether it is a Money Bill or not. I understand, Sir, that you have now ruled that the Bill is a Money Bill, although the Orders of the House have not been complied with, and the measure was not introduced in Committee of the Whole House in the first instance. I think the question is one of some importance to the House generally, or we shall never be able to know whether a Bill is a Money Bill or not; I submit with respect, as the sanction of no Committee has yet been obtained, the Half-past Twelve o'clock Rule should operate.

MR. SHAW LEFEVRE

The Bill was not brought in as a Money Bill, and, as a matter of fact, it was blocked, and could not be brought on after half-past 12 o'clock. At present, the Bill is not a Money Bill.

MR. HEALY

I understand that you, Sir, have ruled this to be a Money Bill. The right hon. Gentleman the Postmaster General now says that it is not a Money Bill, and I wish to know which view is correct?

MR. SPEAKER

This is entirely a different proceeding for the purpose of setting up a Bill, and it is necessary to pass a Resolution in Committee for the purpose of sanctioning a Money Clause in a Bill. The Bill itself is not entirely a Money Bill; but it will contain a clause which is a Money Clause, and in order to bring that clause in harmony with the Rules of the House it is necessary to set up the Bill in Committee, so that the Money Clause may be inserted in it.

MR. HEALY

I perfectly understand that point; but if it is not yet a Money Bill it will be perfectly possible to block the measure to-morrow. For the purpose of obtaining your ruling upon the point to-morrow, I propose to block the Bill to-night.

MR. SPEAKER

I understand that the Bill itself is before a Select Committee. When it comes back from that Select Committee it will be in the power of the hon. and learned Member for Monaghan (Mr. Healy) to take the course he has just suggested.

MR. SEXTON

How can a Resolution in Committee set up a Bill which is already before the House, and which has been read a second time?

MR. SPEAKER

The proposal of the right hon. Gentleman has reference only to a clause which it is proposed to insert in an existing Bill. There is no proposal to set up an entire Bill.

Question put, and agreed to.

Committee thereupon To-morrow.

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