§ Mr. SpeakerThe Clerk will now proceed to read the titles of Private Bills set down for consideration this day.
§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd (Mid-Bedfordshire)Before the learned Clerk reads that list, may I ask for your guidance, Mr. Speaker, on a matter that seems to my hon. Friends and myself to be a question of principle in regard to this list of Private Bills down for Second Reading today?
Standing Order 163 deals with the First Reading of such Bills and by it the date is fixed. Standing Order 170, I think, deals with the Second Reading. The question I should like to ask you is: Am I right in thinking that, within limits, the date of the Second Reading is at the discretion of the agents, that is, as far as proposing a date is concerned. If that is so, and a Friday is the choice of the agent, then that is highly inconvenient to a large number of hon. Members. Because of this, I believe some hon. Members are anxious to object to all these Bills, though to some of them there is no objection in the matter of the Bills themselves.
§ Mr. SpeakerIt is, of course, entirely a matter for the agents. They are responsible, and they are, under Standing Orders, entitled to put down these Bills on a Friday. As to the objection to Friday itself, I cannot understand where that lies. Suppose, for instance, notice had been given on Saturday and they were put down for Thursday. We would have all this list taking five or six minutes out of Question time. It would be quite easy if they wish to object, for hon. Members to leave someone here to say "Objection" to each one. As for the threat that every Bill may be opposed because a few Members cannot be here on a Friday as it is inconvenient to them, I suggest that is a most un-Parliamentary form of procedure.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydWith great respect, Sir, if it is equally possible for the agent to give notice on Saturday, which would have the effect of Second Reading being on Thursday, is there any reason why they could not take that step, which would be greatly to the convenience of this honourable House?
§ Mr. SpeakerI am not responsible for the agents, nor are we. They are entirely under Standing Orders. They are responsible and I cannot understand the objection.