STANDING ORDERS. (Hansard, 7 July 1927)

Major-General Sir NEWTON MOORE
I beg to move, That so much of Standing Order 91 as fixes Five as the quorum of the Select Committee on Standing Orders be read and suspended. The object of this Motion is to expedite public business. There are two important matters down for consideration on Monday next, and, in view of the fact that many Members of the Committee are on other Committees, it is thought necessary to reduce the quorum.

HON. MEMBERS
Object.

§ Mr. SPEAKER
Objection cannot be taken before Three o'Clock.

§ Mr. BUCHANAN
Yesterday we were allowed to take objection, and we were not told about the Three o'Clock Rule. It seems to me rather peculiar that on one day a simple objection should operate, and that on the following day it should not. I understand the reason for this Motion is the pressure of public business and that it is difficult to get Members to attend, but that does not apply to Mondays. So far as I am aware, there is no Committee that meets on Monday.

Lieut.-Colonel Sir FREDERICK HALL
I could tell you of one.

§ Mr. BUCHANAN
You could not tell me of many. That grievance, we allege, is not a valid one. Let me come to the other reason. Certain Members seem to have a glut of Committee work while others seem to have no Committees at all. This business ought to be faced. The House of Commons passes certain Standing Orders to govern its business at the beginning of the year. It is a perfectly 1406 good argument that for an occasion these things might be suspended, but when it becomes a regular routine business every year the whole thing is altered, and the House ought in a correct and legitimate way to alter its Standing Orders. We are now told this thing cannot be done. This temporary expedient year after year is a form of blackmail. I agree that the Mersey tunnel is an important piece of constructive work, but why should I be held up to blackmail against my public duty by the Mersey Tunnel? The thing is not fair, and it is not reasonable, and there is a remedy for the House if it wants it. Either the House ought to fulfil its legitimate obligations and have the Rules altered, or those who serve on the Standing Orders Committee, which is doing important public work, ought to limit their activities in regard to other Committees. I do not want to deprive Members of the opportunity of putting questions, but it seems to me this is forcing on me an objectionable practice which I do not want to take up. But this is not going to happen, so far as I am concerned if I am privileged—and I am likely to be—to be a Member of the House for some time to come. I am more likely than most. The hon. and gallant Member for Richmond (Sir Newton Moore) looks like being here next year, too, and I hope he is going to face up to get this altered. This practice of certain Members getting too much work on Committees while others are denied the opportunity is becoming far too common. The hon. and gallant Gentleman ought next year to get the thing done in a proper fashion.

§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY
Could we have a word from the Chairman of the Committee as to what the business actually is on Monday. It would give us a better idea of the strength of the case. The Mersey Tunnel Bill has been passed, and the tunnel is in process of construction now. My constituency has been denied equal facilities, but I do not mind that. Will the hon. and gallant Gentleman give us a short account of the actual work to be done by a quorum of three instead of five?

§ Sir NEWTON MOORE
I was not aware that this innocent little Motion would meet with such strong opposition. It is a Measure always brought forward 1407 after Whitsuntide in view of the fact that there is a certain amount of congestion of public business. Some Members who are on the Standing Orders Committee are also members of other Committees, and it will be for them to decide, if the Motion is not carried, whether it would not be wise for them to neglect their other business in order to come to the Standing Orders Committee. I have only brought it forward in accordance with precedent and with a view to expediting any business that may be brought up for discussion on Monday, which is the next meeting. Amongst other matters that will be discussed, there is a Motion in connection with the Mersey Tunnel—I do not know exactly the nature of the business—and there are one or two other questions which will be brought before the Committee. I have not brought it forward with a view to giving information in regard to any particular Measure. It has been customary to bring it forward after Whitsuntide, and it has generally been accepted. If hon. Members object to it, of course we shall have to carry on and endeavour to obtain a quorum.

§ Colonel WEDGWOOD
Evidently, it is not essential that we should pass this Motion now. I am afraid the House of Commons is rather slack in its attendance. It would be just as well if Members were made definitely aware that they have to attend this Committee and should not take up two or three Committees.

§ Mr. SPEAKER
Debate to be resumed?

§ Sir NEWTON MOORE
I do not propose to bring it forward again.