HC Deb 09 March 1938 vol 332 cc2076-8

Resolved, That the draft of a Special Order proposed to be made by the Board of Trade under the Gas Undertakings Acts 1920 to 1934, on the application of the Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses of the borough of Work- ington, which was presented on the 1st day of February and published, be approved."—[Captain Wallace.]

Motion made, and Question proposed, That the draft of a Special Order proposed to be made by the Board of Trade under the Gas Undertakings Acts,. 1920 to 1934, on the application of the Spalding Urban District Council, which was presented on the 11th day of February and published, be approved."—[Captain Wallace.]

1.34 a.m.

Mr. Kelly

I do not wish to take exception to this Order at this hour of the night, but really it is a little unfair on the part of the Government to be pressing these matters through at this hour when other Members may not be here to have the opportunity of dealing with matters that may concern their own particular districts and divisions.

Motion made, and Question proposed, That the draft of a Special Order proposed to be made by the Board of Trade under the Gas Undertakings Acts, 1920 to 1934, on the application of the Newport (Monmouthshire) Gas Company, which was presented on the 17th day of February and published, be approved."—[Captain Wallace.]

1.35 a.m.

Mr. Garro Jones

Would the Patronage Secretary be good enough to explain why it is necessary to take these Orders tonight? After all, there is some substance in the point raised by the hon. Member for Rochdale (Mr. Kelly) that there may be Members who desire to object to or to comment on these Orders, and if that is so, they ought not to be deprived of the opportunity by reason of the unexpected time of their presentation, and I should like to ask the right hon. Gentleman, who has made great progress, whether he should not be satisfied with the work he has accomplished.

1.36 a.m.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Captain Margesson)

These Orders are unopposed and exempted business. If any hon. Member was interested in raising any point on them no doubt he would be here. The Government are always allowed to take a certain number of Gas Orders and Electricity Orders after 11 o'clock. It has been done for some years, and I see no reason for departing from the practice.

Mr. Benn

I do not object to these Gas Orders and I do not wish to hinder the programme, but I do object to the right hon. Gentleman saying that "the Government are allowed." I object to his putting a precedent in his speech. I do not know what he means by that. To the Orders themselves I do not raise any objection.