HC Deb 05 June 1946 vol 423 cc2008-10
Mr. Stokes

With your permission, Mr. Speaker, and with the leave of the House, I wish to refer to an incident which occurred at the end of Business last night. It will be within your knowledge, though it may not be within the knowledge of all hon. Members, that the House was counted out, on the Motion for the Adjournment, shortly before midnight. I raise this matter on two grounds. The first is that the Adjournment Motion is now practically the only time private Members have, and a Minister takes the trouble to come down to answer a particular point. It seems to me particularly unfortunate, though I do not criticise the right of hon. Members to call a count, that that time should be wasted. The second is that last night it would appear to those of us who were not very far from the Chamber, that the machinery broke down. I was in the Smoking Room, and got up immediately to come into the Chamber. It so happened that the "Ticker "—the tape machine —and the bells went almost at the same time, which was a most unusual happening, and by the time I had walked to the Chamber—and I do not walk slowly—the count was over. I wish to submit, Mr. Speaker, in view of the fact that the Library, for example, is so far away from the Chamber, and that a change has been made in regard to Divisions, that you should consider the advisability of extending the period of the Count from two to three minutes, so that Members of the House, if they so choose, can reach the Chamber within the time allowed for the Count.

Mr. Speaker

I understand that for some reason last night—I do not know why— the bell did not ring at quite the right time. Apparently it rang at the same time as the "Ticker " operated. Usually it rings some time in advance. As I say, I do not quite know what happened there, and I will look into that matter. With regard to the second point which the hon. Member has put to me, if, through the usual channels, representations were made to me about the time allowed for a Count, I would consider the matter, though I would point out to the House that a Member who has the Adjournment is really responsible for choosing a subject which will attract the attention of other hon. Members.

Mr. Stokes

May I say that I did take some trouble to inquire into this matter? I am advised that I am wrong in thinking that the bells did not start ringing at the right moment. Therefore, it would appear that as I grow older I get slower. With great respect I would submit, in connection with your point about the responsibility of a back bencher to maintain a House, that a great number of us last night were anxious to keep the House going, and quite a considerable number hurried into the Chamber, but were too late. Therefore, if two minutes are not enough, I would, with respect, ask you, Sir, seriously to consider extending the time to three minutes.

Mr. Stephen

Might I submit that the Rule which applies in the dinner hour, when a Count cannot be called, might also be applied to the Adjournment Motion, since this is the only opportunity that a private Member has?

Mr. Blackburn

As the Adjournment Motion is the only opportunity which private Members have to raise matters of great concern to them, I would like to support the suggestion made by my hon. Friend.

Sir Wavell Wakefield

May I also support the suggestion that it should not be possible to have a Count during the half-hour Adjournment, as that is now the only time which back benchers have in which to raise matters? Surely there ought to be such opportunities reserved for back benchers.

Major Cecil Poole

Is it not a fact that if all those Members who showed such anxiety to keep the House going for the Adjournment last night had been here, the Count would not have succeeded?

Mr. Dribcrg

Might I respectfully submit, in support of the suggestion made by the hon. Member for Camlachie (Mr. Stephen), that although, in general, it may be desirable that the subjects chosen should be such as to attract a full House, none the less the half-hour Adjournment is the only occasion when some particular and local point can be raised, which may not be of general interest.

Mr. Speaker

I however said that if representations were made to me I would consider the matter. I do not think I can go further than that. It appears to me that there is quite a difference of opinion on the subject.

Mr. Gallacher

rose—

Mr. Speaker

I think we should now get on to other Business.