§ Sir ROBERT SANDERSMay I ask. Sir, whether your attention has been directed to an incident which occurred in Standing Committee D yesterday, and-if so, whether you could net see your way to make a statement to the House as to the authority of the Chairman of a Standing Committee with regard to Members of the Committee, and as to the maintenance of Order on that Committee?
§ Mr. SPEAKERMy intention has been directed to what occurred in Standing Committee D yesterday. I am sure that the House will feel that I should not say anything about that particular incident: but I shall confine what I have to say to the general question.
The House has entrusted important and difficult duties to the Chairmen of its Standing Committees, and I feel sure that it expects, and rightly expects, the Members of those Committees to show 2013 to the Chairmen the same respect and deference as is shown by Committees of the Whole House to their Chairmen, and, indeed, by the House itself to its Speaker. Without such consideration, the position of a Chairman would become intolerable.
The House has retained in its own hands powers of discipline over its Members, and it is very remarkable, and I think creditable to our proceedings, that during the 40 years in which Standing Committees have been in existence, there has not been a ease, so far as I know, in which the House has been called upon to assert its authority over a Member of one of those Committees.
I would earnestly and respectfully recommend to all parties in the House the desirability of maintaining this tradition.
There is no doubt that the House has it in its power to vindicate the authority of the Chairman of a Standing Committee, but for the sake of the House itself, as well as of its Committees, I hope that such counsels will prevail as will render any such action unnecessary, and that the great traditions of the past may be maintained.
§ Mr. CLYNESI think that we may safely say that, in the statement which we have heard, we recognise the customary helpfulness and guidance which have always been received from the Chair, but I would like to ask a. further question. It would appear from the Report of the proceedings referred to, that the trouble over which this question has arisen was due to the fact that the Committee upstairs had denied to it the right of deciding as to the days upon which, and the times at which it should meet. Accordingly I would like to ask you whether you can make any statement as to how in future that point may be resolved, so that Committees may know their position in this matter?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe point raised by the right hon. Gentleman is not governed by any Standing Order of the House. It is a question of the practice and procedure of the Committee upstairs. There is a body, the Chairmen's Panel, which, I think, deals with questions of that kind. To my mind, it would be undesirable that the House should lay down any Standing Order or or any Rule on this question. If there is some doubt as to the practice, or a desire to determine the practice, I would 2014 suggest then that the matter should be brought before the Chairmen's Panel for consideration.