§ Mr. BOOTHI wish to ask you, Mr. Speaker, a question of which I have given you notice, namely, whether you saw a statement in the Press, professing to emanate from the Government Whips, asserting that Privy Councillors who are Members of Parliament will in future occupy the Front Opposition Bench; whether it is not the privilege of any hon. Member to take any seat unappropriated before prayers, subject only to the counsel and advice of Mr. Speaker; and whether you are aware that the same statement contained an intimation that occupancy of the Front Opposition, Bench would not in future indicate any attitude of dissent from the policy of the Government of the day?
§ Mr. SPEAKERIn reply to the hon. Member, I have not, as a matter of fact, seen the announcement in the papers, and whether or not it is given by the Government Whips I am sure I cannot say. With regard to the general question, there is no, right in any hon. Member to any particular seat. It is only as a matter of courtesy and custom that hon. Members occupy certain seats and retain them as a matter of agreement between themselves and their colleagues. With regard to the occupation of the Front Opposition Bench, the custom has always been, as I understand, that any Privy Councillors not in office, and also any Members of a former 7 Administration, are entitled to sit there. When I say "entitled," I use that word subject to what I said just now—that there is no right, and it is only by custom and convention that right hon. and hon. Members occupy those positions.
§ Mr. BOOTHMay I ask whether that announcement, which was issued in the names of the Government Whips, was made after any consultation with you?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI saw the Chief Government Whip. He discussed the matter with me, and I certainly thought that that would be a convenient arrangement. Modifications may be made later, but for the present it seemed to me that that was a desirable course to take.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSMay I ask a question with regard to the old custom under which Members on the Front Opposition Bench, who in ordinary circumstances represent those who sit behind them, have enjoyed a prior right of speaking in this House. I submit that that right, which we all recognise, was accorded to those Gentlemen because they represented the party behind them, and that the Gentlemen who now occupy the Front Bench cannot possibly be said to represent in any similar capacity the majority of those who sit behind the Front Bench. May I ask for your guidance in that matter?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThere is no right in any hon. Member, because he occupies a particular seat, to intervene in a Debate before others. The reason why he is called and given precedence is because of his superior knowledge and wisdom.