HC Deb 15 December 1943 vol 395 cc1515-6

Motion made, and Question proposed, That Mr. Speaker do issue his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown to make out a New Writ for the electing of a Member to serve in this, present Parliament for the County of York (Skipton Division), in the room of George William Rickards, Esquire, deceased."—(Mr. James Stuart.)

Sir Richard Acland

With the Home Office behaving with extraordinary reasonableness and promptitude, I had earnestly hoped that we should have no more trouble with Writs. I did not suppose the Government Whips' Office would ask for a Writ on such a day that nomination day will fall on Christmas Eve. I very much regret that hon. Members will necessarily lose the opportunity of asking a few of the Questions which they would have liked to put to the Government, but I do not arrange the Business of this House, and if the House tolerates the existence of "usual channels" who are going to behave in this way, I regret that hon. Members will have to lose a little of their time.

Mr. Shinwell

On a point of Order, Mr. Speaker. On a previous occasion I directed your attention to the fact that if an hon. Member did raise this matter just when we were about to have Questions to Ministers, it might prevent hon. Members from putting their Questions. May I ask whether it is possible for the Patronage Secretary to delay asking for this Writ until the end of Questions?

Sir R. Acland

May I support that appeal and express the hope that the Patronage Secretary will agree?

Mr. Speaker

The appeal should not have been made to me, but to the Patronage Secretary.

Mr. Shinwell

Then may I put the question to the Leader of the House? I am not sure whether or not he was present on a previous occasion, but I think that what I am suggesting would represent the sense of the House.

The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Eden)

I personally do not want to take up any of the Question time. I was trying to search my memory. I know that for the Patronage Secretary to move the Motion now is the normal practice, but I do not think we should be setting a very alarming precedent by acceding to the request which has been made, and if it seems right to you also, Mr. Speaker, I think we might follow that course, though, of course, we must get a decision on this subject.

The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. James Stuart)

I beg to ask leave to withdraw the Motion.

Motion, by leave, withdrawn.

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