§ Mr. LOUGHasked the Prime Minister whether he can see his way to restore the former practice of the Minister making his statement on the first Vote, submitted to the Committee of Supply, and thus allowing the hon. Member who has obtained the first place in the Ballot on going into Committee of Supply on the Naval Estimates to move his Resolution at the commencement of the sitting to-day, so that an adequate time may be allotted for the question which he wishes to discuss?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Churchill)Without going into the constitutional question raised by the right hon. Gentleman, it seems appropriate that on this occasion 2443 the First Lord should make his statement on the Naval Estimates at the beginning of business to-day. In view of the discussion on Monday last, I think it would be more convenient to the House to adhere to the now established Parliamentary custom that the Minister should give his explanation of the Estimates before the Speaker leaves the Chair. I hope that the discussion may not be prolonged, so that the hon. Member who obtained the first place in the Ballot may have an opportunity at an early hour to-day of moving his Resolution. This course may perhaps anticipate some of the criticism that might be made if the Minister had not an opportunity of speaking. The alternative to this course is that the statement of the First Lord should be deferred until the Committee on Naval Estimates is taken, and that would take up an equal amount of time, and be much less convenient to the whole House.
§ Mr. DILLONMay I, as a point of Order, ask whether it is only by the general indulgence of the House that the Minister in charge of the Navy and Army Estimates was permitted to make his statement on the Motion that Mr. Speaker do leave the Chair; whether it has only recently been the case; whether for a great number of years it was not the settled practice of this House up till quite recently that the private Member who had won at the ballot had a right to move his Motion against your leaving the Chair before the Minister makes his statement?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member is, I think, correct. My recollection is that until about six or seven years ago the practice always was that the hon. Member who had drawn first place in the ballot was entitled at the beginning to move his Amendment, and after that was disposed of, together with any general discussion, Mr. Speaker left the Chair, and the Minister made his statement to the Committee. That practice was altered more than six or seven years ago—I am not quite sure which year. Hon. Members will see the difficulty in which I am placed. If there is an Order of the day—I am bound to call upon the Minister to move it. He can do so either by taking off his hat or by simply saying, "I move," or it is open to him to make his speech. But it is my duty to call upon him, and then I and other Members of the House are in his hands, because it really rests with the Minister to say whether he will make his 2444 speech with Mr. Speaker in the Chair, or forego that right and simply move the Order.
§ Mr. DILLONWas the practice which has only come into vogue during the last six years the result of any alteration in Standing Orders, and did not the Minister who first inaugurated it apologise to the House for so doing and treat it as an exceptional occasion. Did he not say he would make his statement with the general indulgence of the House? Is this exceptional practice to be held to deprive hon. Members, who have won a place in the ballot, of an old-established right, which has been recognised by the House of Commons for many years?
§ Mr. SPEAKERCertainly it is not owing to any amendment of the Standing Orders. I am afraid my recollection is not good enough to say under what particular circumstances this practice was initiated, but if the hon. Member will repeat his question at a later date I will refresh my memory, and will give him a reply.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member can raise the point at the end of Questions.