HC Deb 28 June 1939 vol 349 cc383-4

Motion made, and Question proposed, That an Address be presented for a Return of Licences granted under the Act 39 & 40 Vic. cap. 77, showing the number of experiments performed under the Act during 1938, and the registered places at which such experiments may be performed (in continuance of Parliamentary Paper No. 149 of 1938).— [Mr. Peake]

Mr. Leach

On a point of Order. I wish to know, Mr. Speaker, whether it is within the competence of any private Member who seeks to enlarge the purposes of this Order, to do so at this juncture?

Mr. Speaker

No, I do not think that would be so. The hon. Member has no power to require the Amendment of a Return presented by the Government.

Mr. Leach

Then I object to this Order.

Mr. Speaker

It is very unusual for an hon. Member to object to an Order of this kind at this stage. After all it is withholding from the House something which they are entitled to have.

Mr. Leach

Objection was taken to an Order on similar lines recently, and in that case the Order for the time being was withdrawn. There was a request that it should be suspended by the Minister, and he amended it later on, for some mysterious reason and in some way or other, presumably to placate the hon. Member for South Croydon (Sir H. Williams), who took objection to it. I thought that perhaps I might have the right to do to-day what the hon. Member for South Croydon did then.

Mr. Speaker

I would advise the hon. Member not to follow bad examples.

Question put, and agreed to.