HC Deb 06 March 1928 vol 214 cc938-40

Motion made, and Question proposed, That it is expedient that the London, Midland, and Scottish Railway (Road Transport) Bill, the Great Western Railway (Road Transport) Bill, the London and North Eastern Railway (Road Transport) Bill, the Metropolitan Railway (Road Transport) Bill, and the Southern Railway (Road Transport) Bill be committed to a Joint Committee of Lords and Commons.—[Major Glyn.]

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

Will this procedure permit the municipalities interested to be represented before this Committee and to give evidence?

Mr. SPEAKER

There will be another Motion to refer all the petitions deposited, municipal ones among them, to the Joint Committee.

Mr. HARDIE

Will this procedure involve municipalities in any expense in bringing forward evidence for or against?

Mr. SPEAKER

The object is to save expense.

Mr. MACLEAN

Will this Bill be committed to the same Committee as the other Bills, and will all the Bills be considered at one time by the Committee as a general business, or will they be taken separately by the Joint Committee?

Mr. SPEAKER

The Joint Committee will have to deal with each Bill separately, but it depends on the Committee whether they will hear the case of all of them before they decide on any one.

Mr. MACLEAN

But there might be some objections to one particular Bill in certain localities, and not to the other Bills.

Mr. SPEAKER

The Committee can certainly hear objections of that kind on petition.

Mr. KIRKWOOD

I would like to put a question to you, Mr. Speaker, because I am not quite sure of my ground. I would like to ask how this Road Transport (Scotland) Bill will operate? I want to know if we have any guarantee for our Scottish municipalities that their rights will be safeguarded, and that this Bill will not imperil the great amount of money invested by the municipalities in road transport.

Mr. SPEAKER

That is a matter which can be heard by the Committee which deals with the Bill. There are petitions, no doubt, asking for protection of that kind, and they are just the matters that will be heard by the Committee.

Question put, and agreed to.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That a Message be sent to the Lords to communicate this Resolution and to desire their concurrence."—[Major Glyn.]

Mr. MACOUISTEN

On this Motion, I wish to move the Previous Question.

Mr. SPEAKER

The Question now is, "That a Message be sent to the Lords to, communicate this Resolution and to desire their concurrence."

Mr. MACQUISTEN

May I point out that I rose at the earliest possible moment?

Mr. SPEAKER

I had collected the voices.

Mr. MACQUISTEN

On a point of Order, Mr. Speaker. May I point out that I rose for the purpose of moving the Previous Question on the first Motion immediately after you had dealt with the remarks of the hon. Member for Dumbarton Burghs (Mr. Kirkwood). I rose, but you, Mr. Speaker, also rose, and, in deference to you, I sat down. I submit, therefore, that the matter was not closed, and that I was entitled to be heard upon it.

Mr. SPEAKER

I have already said that I had collected the voices before I saw the hon. and learned Member.

Question put, and agreed.

Ordered, "That a Message be sent to the Lords to communicate this Resolution and to desire their concurrence."