§ 47. Mr. TINKERasked the Prime Minister whether he will consider giving facilities for a Second Reading discussion on Private Members' Bills brought in under the Ten-Minutes Rule which have been introduced and carried their First Reading in two consecutive sessions?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo, Sir. I do not consider that the hon. Member's proposal is practicable.
§ Mr. TINKERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that Private Members' Bills have not much chance in the House? I know that he has a philosophical outlook and that he knows the old adage that things come to those who wait. I have been waiting a couple of years with a Bill, and it seems that I shall never get on with it.
§ The PRIME MINISTERI would make two observations on that statement. The first is that, as the hon. Member knows, a considerable amount of time is allocated to Private Members' Bills in the earlier part of the Session. That is the right time, I think, for a Private Member to bring in a Bill, especially if it is of a, contentious nature. The mere passing of a Bill under the Ten-Minutes Rule does not, as the House knows, at all indicate that that Bill is non-contentious or popular. There is a generous feeling in the House that if a Private Member is sufficiently interested to introduce a Bill under the Ten-Minutes Rule, he should be given leave to do so, because they like to see the Bill in print, but afterwards most of them desire never to see it any more.