HC Deb 19 July 1937 vol 326 cc1778-80
46. Mr. Cerro Jones

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the increasing number of occasions upon which, at the behest of the Government, this House has in the last few years been asked to waive Privilege arising in respect of Motions emanating from another place which affect public finance; and whether he can undertake that Motions involving waiver of Privilege shall in future not be moved by the Government in this House save only in cases of both urgency and minor importance?

The Prime Minister

The hon. Member is presumably alluding to occasions upon which Amendments to Bills are made in another place upon matters which affect the Privileges of this House. In such cases, you, Sir, invariably direct the attention of the House to the question of Privilege, and, in accordance with long-established practice, the House usually considers such Amendments on their merits and agrees or disagrees with them as it thinks best. When Lords Amendments are considered in this House, Motions to agree or disagree with them are generally moved by the hon. Member in charge of the Bill, and accordingly in the case of Government Bills such Motions are moved by the Minister in charge of the Bill on behalf of the Government. Beyond following the ordinary procedure the Government have taken no special action in this respect, and I am not aware of any recent increase in the number of occasions on which the acceptance of Lords Amendments has involved a waiver of Privilege. I see no reason for making any change in the present practice.

Mr. Garro Jones

May I ask the Prime Minister by what principle or by what working rule, he will prevent these minor waivers of Privilege from developing into a breach of the constitutional principle of financial Privilege?

The Prime Minister

I think we can depend on Mr. Speaker for that.

Mr. Attlee

As these occasions usually arise because of matters which are not foreseen when legislation is passing through this House, will the right hon. Gentleman, as the head of the Government and also as Leader of the House, endeavour to reduce the number of such occasions to the lowest possible limit in order to preserve the Privileges of this House?

The Prime Minister

Certainly, Sir.

Mr. Garro Jones

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that my question did not relate to the jurisdiction of Mr. Speaker, but to the initiative of His Majesty's Government, and, in the light of that statement, would he say by what principle he seeks to prevent these minor breaches of Privilege from developing into a major breach of Privilege, affecting the Constitution?