§ Mr. LindgrenI beg to move, in page 13, line 5, to leave out from " where,"To the second "to,"In line 6, and to insert:
he shows that he did not intend, by failing to acquire or establish a right to benefit for that day.This is a drafting Amendment. It arises from the Committee stage, when a number of hon. Members thought that the wording of the Clause was not as clear as it might be. My right hon. Friend gave an undertaking that between the Committee stage and the Report stage he would give consideration to the wording, in conjunction with the Parliamentary draftsmen, in order that the Clause might be made clearer than the original draft in the Bill.
§ Question, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Bill," put, and negatived.
§ Mr. C. Williams (Torquay)rose
§ Mr. SpeakerI am afraid I have collected the voices.
§ Mr. WilliamsMay I raise a point of Order?
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Gentleman may raise a point of Order.
§ Mr. WilliamsOn a point of Order. I accept what you say, Mr. Speaker, but I had the misfortune to have someone pass straight in front of me as you put the Question.
§ Earl Winterton (Horsham)May I raise a point of Order? The hon. Gentleman was distinctly on his feet but someone passed in front of him as you, Mr. Speaker, collected the voices.
§ Mr. SpeakerI did not see the hon. Gentleman because there was someone in between us. There was someone in front of the hon. Gentleman, but the voices have been collected. The Question is, "That the proposed words be there inserted in the Bill."
§ Earl WintertonDo I understand your Ruling to be, Mr. Speaker, that if an hon. Member rises and addresses you, and someone happens to pass in front of him, you do not call him?
§ Mr. SpeakerCertainly not. The noble Lord has no right to think that. But if I could not see the hon. Gentleman I could not see him. It is not my fault if it is physically impossible for me to see him. The suggestion the noble Lord has made ought not be made.
§ Earl WintertonI merely asked you for your Ruling, Mr. Speaker. Do you suggest it was improper for me to ask for your Ruling?
§ Mr. SpeakerNo, but the noble Lord made a suggestion which he ought not to have made.
§ Sir John Mellor (Sutton Coldfield)On a point of Order Mr. Speaker. My hon. Friend the Member for Torquay (Mr. C. Williams) was on his feet—[HON. MEMBERS: "We have heard that."]— before you started to collect the voices, and with great respect, you were not looking in this direction—[HON. MEMBERS: "Order."]
§ Mr. SpeakerIf I had to look all round before collecting the voices, I might waste a great deal of time. I am not prepared to carry on with this matter.