45. Viscount Hinehingbrookeasked the Prime Minister whether he will move an amendment to Standing Orders to enable the suspension of the rule governing the hour of Adjournment to be moved during the course of business in Committee of Supply.
§ The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Eden)No, Sir. The power to suspend the Rule without notice on certain occasions was granted to the Government for the purpose of obtaining essential and urgent business. Business in Committee of Supply is regulated by Standing Order No. 14, and I do not think that the Government would be justified in asking for this extended power.
§ Viscount HinchingbrookeIn arriving at this decision, has my right hon. Friend taken into account the fact that in several recent Debates, most important Debates, held in Committee of Supply, upwards of a dozen hon. and right hon. Gentlemen have not been able to be called? Cannot he somehow get over the technical difficulties involved, in order to facilitate an arrangement?
§ Mr. EdenIt is, of course, not a unique experience to fail to catch your eye, Sir. I do not think we can amend the Standing Orders on that ground. If I might explain in one sentence what the difficulty is, it would mean, in Committee, that Mr. Speaker would have to come back into the Chair, and then would have to leave the Chair in order that we could get back into Committee. That would be contrary to Standing Order No. 12. I think that we should be careful not to knock our Standing Orders about.