HC Deb 08 June 1931 vol 253 cc635-777

[FIRST ALLOTTED DAY.]

Order for Committee read.

The following Notice of Motion stood upon the Order Taper in the name of Captain BOURNE: That it be an Instruction to the Committee that they have power to divide the Bill into two parts and to report Part III and the First and Second Schedules separately to the House.

Mr. SPEAKER

It appears to me that, since the Guillotine Resolution has been passed by the House, this is a Motion to which effect cannot be given. It would not, therefore, be in order to move it now.

Sir AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN

For the guidance of the House, may I ask whether there is any method by which, if a Guillotine Motion is applied to a Bill, we can raise the question of the division of the Bill into two parts? I understand that there has been no opportunity of making any such Motion until this moment, but, as you have ruled, very naturally and, of course, quite rightly, that since the Guillotine Motion has been passed this Motion, which otherwise would be in order, now becomes out of order, may I ask what is the time and the method by which an hon. Member who desires to take the sense of the House on the question that the Bill be divided into two parts can put such an issue to the House)

Mr. SPEAKER

The only way that could be done is to move it as an Amendment to the Guillotine Resolution. I think it should be embodied in the Guillotine Resolution.

Sir WILLIAM MITCHELL-THOMSON

May I draw your attention to the fact that the Guillotine Resolution itself purports to provide time for the discussion of such an Instruction which has been ruled out of order. If you look at the Resolution itself, you will find that time is specifically provided for a discussion of this Instruction, which is the only Instruction that has ever appeared on the Order Paper in regard to this Bill.

Mr. SPEAKER

The Instruction would have been in order had it not been for the Guillotine Resolution which allots time for the various Clauses and portions of the Bill, and I do not see how such a Motion can be applied to the Bill now.

Captain BOURNE

For the guidance of the House on a future occasion, may I ask whether the effect of your Ruling is that where the House has agreed to a Guillotine Resolution an Instruction to divide the Bill into two would be out of order unless some provision is made in the Guillotine Resolution itself for such a proposal?

Mr. SPEAKER

The hon. and gallant Member can ask that question of course, but it is rather in the air, as I do not know what some future Guillotine Motion might contain. I can only say that a Motion of this kind to be in order should have been included in the Guillotine Resolution.

Mr. SMITHERS

May I point out that the time table only denotes the time at which the discussion shall end, and I submit that such a Motion would be in order at the beginning of the proceedings.

Mr. SPEAKER

I think this Motion is out of order now in view of the Guillotine Resolution which allots time to the various Clauses of the Bill.

Mr. SANDHAM

May I ask whether there is any method of cutting out useless verbiage in this House?

HON. MEMBERS

Yes, resign!

Considered in Committee.

[Sir ROBERT YOUNG in the Chair.]

    cc636-702
  1. CLAUSE 1.—(Increase of customs duty on hydrocarbon oils.) 27,529 words, 2 divisions
  2. CLAUSE 2.—(Amendment with respect to duties for licences on motor bicycles.)
  3. cc702-31
  4. CLAUSE 3.—(Income Tax for 1931–32.) 11,820 words, 1 division
  5. c731
  6. CLAUSE 4.—(Higher rates of Income Tax for 1930–31.) 60 words
  7. cc731-51
  8. CLAUSE 5.—(Construction of Rule 20 of General Rules.) 8,535 words, 1 division
  9. cc751-77
  10. CLAUSE 6.—(Amendment as to payment of tax by instalments.) 11,748 words, 4 divisions