HC Deb 01 July 1949 vol 466 cc1662-3

Order for consideration (as amended in the Standing Committee) read.

11.12 a.m.

Mr. Speaker

Mr. Sparks.

Mr. Sparks (Acton)

On a point of Order. Is it your intention, Sir, to call the proposed new Clause—[Offences and penalties].

Mr. Speaker

I have called the hon. Member for Acton (Mr. Sparks) to move the first Amendment which stands in his name.

Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas Moore (Ayr Burghs)

Further to that point of Order. I understand, Mr. Speaker, that you do not propose to call the new Clause standing in the names of some of my hon. Friends, and myself.

Mr. Speaker

I should have thought it was obvious that as I had called the second notice on the Paper I was not calling the first.

Sir T. Moore

May I explain that the proposed new Clause, and the consequential Amendments, represent a very important principle, which was defeated in the Committee by only 11 votes to eight. That made one hope that the whole House would have an opportunity of judging the matter?

Mr. Speaker

It is not for me to give reasons why I select or why I do not select Amendments. The principle may be important or it may not, but I saw the proposed new Clause for the first time only at ten o'clock this morning. The other Amendments on the next Bill I received late last night by manuscript. I have to go carefully into all the merits of such matters. In view of those circumstances and of the previous discussion I decided not to call the proposed new Clause.