HC Deb 14 March 1933 vol 275 cc1783-6
Sir BASIL PETO

I desire to ask you, Mr. Speaker, a question of which you will have had notice, and that is whether you have an announcement to make to the House about the recommendation made by the Select Committee on Procedure that a technical committee should be appointed to revise the Standing Orders?

Mr. SPEAKER

In accordance with the recommendations which were made by the Select Committee on Procedure, I have appointed a small technical committee composed of the following: Sir Dennis Herbert, Chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means, who has consented to act as Chairman, Mr. Godfrey Locker-Lampson, Sir John Ganzoni, Mr. Neil Maclean, Sir Murdoch McKenzie Wood, and Sir Horace Dawkins, Clerk of the House of Commons. Their terms of reference will be the following: To examine the Standing Orders relating to Public Business, and to make such sug-

Mr. RUNCIMAN

As the answer involves a table of figures, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the answer:

gestions as they may think fit for the removal of ambiguities, for the repeal of those Orders that are found to be obsolete, and for the amending of others to bring them into conformity with present practice."

Sir B. PETO

May I also ask you, Mr. Speaker, a question arising out of one that I asked 10 days ago, namely, whether you have yet had an opportunity of consulting the parties in the House as to the adoption of the recommendation of the Publication and Debates Committee that in the interests of economy Division Lists should not be printed in the Votes and Proceedings of the House?

Mr. SPEAKER

Since the hon. Baronet put that question to me a short time ago I have, in accordance with my promise, ascertained the views of the various parties in the House as to whether they would agree to the suggested economy by discontinuing the printing of Division Lists in the Votes as well as in the OFFICIAL REPORT. I have failed to get agreement to this change from all the parties, and so I am afraid that that economy cannot be effected.

Mr. THORNE

May I ask whether, in your opinion, the terms of reference will give the Committee power to examine and to report as to what time the House shall meet and at what time it shall adjourn?

Mr. SPEAKER

The terms of reference which I have given to the Committee will not enable them to alter the Standing Orders, but merely to clarify them and to bring them into conformity with present practice. It would not enable them to make any such recommendation.

Mr. THORNE

Would they be entitled to recommend that the House should meet earlier and adjourn earlier?

Mr. SPEAKER

No.

Mr. THORNE

I think they ought to be able to do so.

Mr. MAXTON

Arising out of the announcement of the appointment of the Committee, may I ask you, Sir, if there will be a Motion on the Paper in the ordinary way setting up this Committee, and if it will be in order for those of us who sit in this part of the House to move that one other person be added to the Committee, so that the very definite views which we have upon the Standing Orders may find expression in that Committee?

Mr. SPEAKER

No, this will not appear on the Order Paper. It was a recommendation to me personally to set up a Committee.

Mr. MAXTON

Will you be prepared to receive privately representations on the lines of my suggestion?

Mr. SPEAKER

I am always prepared to receive representations from any quarter of the House.

Sir H. SAMUEL

With regard to the proposed economy in not printing the Division Lists in the Votes and Proceedings, will there be any opportunity for the House to express an opinion as a House on that most desirable proposal?

Mr. SPEAKER

That would hardly be for me to say. A Motion dealing with this question could no doubt be put down.

Sir JOSEPH LAMB

Would it be possible for the House to know which party it was that did not agree to this economy being introduced; and may I also ask whether the question was considered of discontinuing to print the Division List in the Votes and Proceedings but to continue them in the OFFICIAL REPORT?

Mr. SPEAKER

The latter part of the question is exactly the point upon which I asked the views of the different parties. As regards which party did not agree, that does not concern me—as long as one party did not agree.

Sir J. LAMB

Is there any way in which the House can know as a House which party it was?

Mr. SPEAKER

Not from me.