HC Deb 16 May 1924 vol 173 cc1708-9
Major BARNETT

I wish to ask your ruling, Sir, on a question of Order arising out of a Motion standing on the Paper to-day in the name of the hon. Member for Pontypridd (Mr. Mardy Jones)— That the growing practice of the Chairmen of Standing Committees in allowing practically unlimited and irrelevant debate on Bills promoted by private Members is to be deprecated as being subversive of private Members' rights, and that in this respect the conduct of the hon. Member for South-West St. Pancras, as Chairman of Standing Committee A, in respect of the Rent Restrictions Bill, has been particularly reprehensible. The point of order on which I wish to ask your ruling, Sir, is this: Is there a censorship of the Notices of Motion which are handed in at the Table, and, if so, is it in Order to place upon the Paper a Notice of Motion charging the Chairman of a Standing Committee with conduct of a particularly reprehensible kind?

Mr. SPEAKER

There is no censorship of Motions, provided they are within the rules of the House, and this Motion, I think, is within the Rules of the House. As I said last week, it is quite wrong that any criticism of any Chairman of a Standing Committee, or of the whole House, or of the Speaker, should take place outside the House. The proper method is to table a Motion in such a case.

Mr. REMER

As I understand it, as it appears on the Order Paper, this notice may be appearing for several days, and probably months, as it is simply put down for an early day. In these circumstances, should it not be debated on the floor of the House at the earliest possible moment?

Major BARNETT

May I say, in view of your ruling, Sir, that I wish to request the protection of the House, and to ask the Government for the earliest possible day to debate the Motion.

Mr. SPEAKER

That is quite a correct course to take.