§ Mr. CrookshankI should like now. Mr. Speaker, to make my statement on Private Members' time.
During the course of the short debate on the Motion to take the time of the House until Christmas I undertook to consider the possibility of bringing forward the Government's Motion to set up the machinery for the Ballot for Private Members' Bills before we adjourn for Christmas, so that the fullest advantage could be taken of the time to be set apart in the New Year for Private Members' business. It may be for the convenience of hon. Members if I briefly explain the Government's proposals.
We propose to ask the House to adopt the recommendation made by the Select Committee on Procedure in 1946 in favour of allocating 20 Fridays, Motions and Bills being taken on alternate Fridays. This was the proposal followed last Session by the late Government. There will be 10 Fridays for Bills, the first six for Second Readings, beginning on Friday, 1st February; and the last four of the Bill Fridays will be devoted to final stages.
There will be 10 Fridays for Private Members' Motions, the first being Friday, 8th February, and precedence will be decided by periodical Ballots which will be held in the House. By this means the subjects of Motions will be fresh and topical. The first Ballot for Motions will not be held until after the Christmas Recess. We shall provide that after the Ballot has been held to decide the precedence of unofficial Bills, Private Members will be able to present Bills in the ordinary way or under the Ten-Minutes Rule procedure.
A Motion is being drafted in consultation with the authorities of the House and will be placed on the Order Paper as early as possible with a view to its being passed not later than Thursday of next week. If the Government proposals are generally acceptable, as I trust will be the case, and the Motion is approved by the House, hon. Members will sign their names for the Ballot for Bills in the list to be placed in the "No" Lobby on Tuesday and Wednesday, 27th and 28th November. The Ballot for Bills will be held under arrangements to be made by Mr. Speaker on Thursday, 29th November. 1176 In the past it has been the custom for Bills to be presented on the day following the result of the Ballot. We feel that it would be an advantage to hon. Members successful in the Ballot if they had a little more time to consider the Measures which they wish to bring forward and, accordingly, we shall propose that the Bills should be presented at the commencement of public business on Wednesday, 5th December.
I have considered this matter very carefully and believe that the proposals which I have outlined will enable the most effective use to be made of the Private Members' time; and those Bills which prove acceptable to the House should reach another place in good time for consideration during the course of the Session.
§ Mr. AttleeI understand that this is, with a slight variation, substantially the same as was done last year, which, I think, met the convenience of the House. I think the proposed variation, to give a little more time for preparation, is an advantage, and as far as I am concerned I think that this should be accepted.
§ Mr. CrookshankI am much obliged to the right hon. Gentleman.