HC Deb 23 May 1900 vol 83 cc1031-4
*MR. JAMES LOWTHER

I desire to submit to your judgment, Mr. Speaker, a question which involves the practice and order of this House. I imagine that a motion could now be made by the Leader of this House that this House do forthwith adjourn, though perhaps there might be some question as a matter of precedent whether such a motion, if made by an unofficial Member without notice, could be put from the Chair. I would draw your attention, Mr. Speaker, to page 334 of Sir Erskine May's universally recognised work upon this question, in which he lays down the occasion when motions can be made without notice. Sir Erskine May says that motions have been made without notice regulating the adjournment of the House. On the 11th February, 1893, a resolution was proposed without notice, and agreed to, that the Speaker should at the conclusion of Government business adjourn the House without question put. That is the precedent which I submit for an appeal to my right hon. friend to make a motion.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

What was the subject?

*MR. JAMES LOWTHER

That is not involved, as the reason for my quoting the case is merely as a precedent for a motion being made without notice, and has no reference to the special object with which such motion was made, and, in fact, I have not had the means of looking that up yet. The object of the adjournment is irrelevant, but what is strictly relevant is the point of order as to whether it is within the competence of any Member of the House to move that the House do forthwith adjourn under circumstances like the present, when it is obvious that precedent has been broken.

*MR. SPEAKER

The right hon. Gentleman is not entitled to raise anything but a point of order, and he must confine himself to that.

*Mr. JAMES LOWTHER

Then I will confine myself to the points whether it is within the power of any unofficial Member of this House now to move that this House do forthwith adjourn on the occasion of Her Most Gracious Majesty's birthday, although I hope my right hon. friend will relieve me of any further doubt by signifying that he himself intends to propose such a motion; and I would further put the question as to whether the Leader of the House can make such a motion.

*MR. SPEAKER

It would certainly not be competent for any Member of the House not representing the Government to make such a motion. In the first place, it is opposed to precedent that it should be done without notice; and in the next place we have now got to a point of the commencement of public business when a motion for adjournment is precluded under the Standing Orders. But that does not relate to the action of the Government, who have always had the right at any time to move the immediate adjournment of the House. The circum- stances under which this may be done is largely a matter for their discretion; but I may say that I do not think that right has ever been exercised except upon a matter suddenly arising, such as the death of some great personage or a prominent Member of the House. Under those circumstances it is not uncommon for the Leader of the House, without notice, to move the adjournment of the House. As far as I can remember, I am not aware that there is any precedent for a motion of the kind suggested when circumstances can be foreseen or when notice can be given, and I do not think the precedent which the right hon. Gentleman cited bears upon this matter.