HC Deb 14 November 1944 vol 404 cc1801-2
Major Trevor Cox

I wish to ask your guidance, Mr. Speaker, Sir, on a question which concerns Motion No. 83 on the Order Paper.

[That this House requests His Majesty's Government to appoint a Committee to inquire publicly into the provision made by Government Departments, Local Authorities and Charities for children deprived of a normal home life, and to make recommendations.]

I discovered, by accident, that my name had been put down as a supporter of this Motion without my knowledge and without any prior consultation. I am reluctant to raise the matter, but I believe there have been other cases. I know of one or two. Therefore, I thought I would ask your guidance, Sir, in regard to it.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. and gallant Member is perfectly right in raising this matter, because it is of some importance that, when names are put down to a Motion by hon. Members, they should ascertain that these are the names of supporters of the Motion, and that they are put down correctly. I am told that sometimes that has not been the case in the past. I am told, too, that very often postcards are put on the Table, presumably for supporters of the Motion, and sometimes a card states, "I am not in favour of my name being added, as I do not support the Motion." That shows tha[...] sufficient care is not always taken to see that the lists put in are correct. I am told, also, that a whole list of names was put in the other day in support of the wrong Motion. All that means a great deal of extra work, and I am grateful to the hon. and gallant Member for raising the question.