HC Deb 12 November 1918 vol 110 cc2510-1
Mr. BRADY

I desire to ask your ruling on a point of Order arising on the Orders of the Day. Whether you are aware that the Constabulary and Police (Ireland) Bill, which is fourteenth Order on the Paper for to-day, was introduced without a Money Resolution relating thereto having been passed, and whether in these circumstances it is not necessary to discharge the Order for the Second Reading of the Bill and to introduce a new Bill founded in a proper manner on a Money Resolution?

Mr. SPEAKER

I believe that the facts are as the hon. Member states. The matter had not been called to my attention until he handed in his question, and during the short time in which I have had an opportunity of investigating the matter I find that what he states is correct, and that the Bill ought to have been founded on a Resolution.

Mr. BRADY

In these circumstances, would you allow me to ask the Chief Secretary, assuming that he intends to move to discharge the Order for the Second Reading of the Bill, when he hopes to introduce the Bill in a regular fashion? I ask the question as hon. Members on these benches are greatly interested in the matter, and are naturally anxious to know when it will come on for Second Reading.

Colonel SANDERS (Treasurer of the Household)

I regret the mistake, but if the hon. Member will look on the Paper he will find that No. 6 is the Money Resolution which it is necessary to pass in order to introduce this Bill. It is hoped to take No. 6 on the Paper and to discharge No. 14.

Mr. DILLON

Must you not discharge No. 14 before you take No. 6?

Mr. BRADY

Does the right hon. Gentleman propose to-day to move the discharge of the Bill which is now admitted to be irregular?

Mr. BONAR LAW

I have made inquiry about this, and I am informed that the Money Resolution can be introduced before the Bill has been formally discharged.

Mr. BRADY

I am not traversing that. What I want to know is when the new Bill will be introduced, to which I presume this Money Resolution refers.

Mr. SPEAKER

That Bill cannot be introduced until the House has agreed to the Report of the Money Resolution.