§ Sir H. WilliamsMr. Speaker, before you call on the Prime Minister to move his Motion to enable us to discuss the Motion standing in the name of the right hon. Member for South Shields (Mr. Ede) to annul the Orders relating to foodstuffs, soaps and confectionery, may I point out that it would appear to me from a study of the Statute that this Prayer is invalid because of the terms of the Act?
§ Mr. SpeakerIn reply to the point of order of the hon. Member, it seems to me that it is in order at any time for hon. Members to put down a Motion for an Address to Her Majesty. The effect of these Orders which are contained in the Motion having run out of time is that they do not, like Orders prayed against in time, cease immediately to have effect. If the Motion were carried, it would be for the Ministers to advise Her Majesty as to what course Her Majesty should take in regard to them. The Motion is not out of order, but it does not have the same effect in immediately stopping the time-expired Orders from having effect.
§ Sir H. WilliamsThe Statute enables Her Majesty to do certain things in certain circumstances. Her Majesty has not been able to do these things in response to this Prayer. The Ministries, if they liked, could revoke them, which is an entirely different matter. Therefore, the Prayer should not be directed to Her Majesty but to Her Majesty's Government who have the power to act.
§ Mr. SpeakerThat is a form of distinction without real significance.