HC Deb 27 January 1944 vol 396 c829

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 Kirkcaldy District of Burghs, in the room of the right hon. Thomas Kennedy, who, since his election for the said borough, has accepted the office of Steward or Bailiff of His Majesty's three Chiltern Hundreds of Stoke, Desborough, and Burnham, in the county of Buckingham." [Mr. Whiteley.]

Mr. Bowles

May I ask whether there is any objection to our having, on the Order Paper, notices of Motions of this kind? Notice is given of every other Motion that is moved in the House, and as you, Mr. Speaker, have made arrangements for giving Members notice of matters that are to be raised on the Adjournment, could not notice of new Writs be given on the Order Paper?

Mr. Speaker

It is not necessary. There are no Rules that notice of Motion for a new Writ should be on the Order Paper, for it is a matter which can be raised at any time without notice. I think that that is really the answer; it is, of course, a matter of Privilege.

Mr. Shinwell

On a previous occasion I ventured to make a suggestion that, in order not to impinge on the time that Members have for putting Questions, we might defer consideration of such matters as new Writs until the end of Questions. In view of what happened recently, is it not possible to make some such arrangement?

Mr. Speaker

That is a matter not for me, but for the Government.

Mr. Rhys Davies

A much more important question is whether it is possible for anybody to explain what are the duties connected with the office of the Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds.

Mr. Speaker

That question should be asked of someone else. I cannot answer it.

Question put, and agreed to.

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