§ Mr. BowlesMay I ask a question of which I have given you Private Notice, Mr. Speaker? May I ask whether your attention has been called to the fact that the result of the Division No. 64 (Resolution on Steel) was announced by the Tellers as 300 for the Opposition, whereas the Division List in Votes and Proceedings contained only 299 names; which figure prevails, and whether you will give a Ruling as to the procedure to be followed which will not alter the indulgence allowed to invalid Members that their Whips may vote for them provided they are in the precincts?
§ Mr. SpeakerI am informed that in the Division No. 64 on Tuesday, 19th September, on the Motion entitled "Steel Nationalisation Act (Immediate Operation)," the Opposition Whip, passing through the Aye Lobby, gave the name of the Hon. Richard Wood to the Tellers 2493 at the door but omitted to do so to the Division Clerk concerned. The result was that when the Tellers announced the numbers as Ayes, 300; Noes, 306, the list of names voting Aye which was sent to the printers did not contain the name of the hon. Member for Bridlington (Mr. Wood) and totalled only 299. An Erratum to put this right was published at the earliest opportunity, namely, Thursday, 28th September, and repeated in the usual way as an Erratum at the foot of the next Division List after the Division which took place on 18th October, 1950. I may add that the numbers given me by the Tellers are the operative ones and the others are purely secondary.
I do not think that these facts require any change in the time-honoured procedure and practice by which the Whips in charge of the Ayes or the Noes give the names both to Clerks and to Tellers of any of their party Members who, owing to any disability, are excused from passing through the Lobby although present in the House and desirous of voting.