HC Deb 14 December 1955 vol 547 cc1208-10
Dr. Broughton

On a point of order. Many hon. Members of this House have learned today from the newspapers that an important statement was made in another place yesterday concerning a change in the Government's policy about the proposed ban on heroin. May I ask you, Mr. Speaker, whether it is usual for hon. Members of this honourable House to have to learn of changes in Government policy only through the medium of the Press? Are not the Government ignoring rights of hon. Members? As no statement has been made by any Minister, are not the Government treating this House with contempt?

Mr. Speaker

I would not go so far as that. Hon. Members will know that the general rule against mentioning speeches in another place is relaxed in the case of Ministerial statements in the other place, which means that this House recognises speeches made by Ministers in another place and exempts them from the rule. I think that there is no constitutional matter of great importance involved.

Mr. Edward Evans

Is it not possible for the Government to make an authoritative statement to this House today?

Mr. Speaker

I do not know about that. It is not a matter for me.

Mr. H. Morrison

I would ask your indulgence, Mr. Speaker, and that of the House to put this point to the Leader of the House. There was a debate in another place, and I understand that the Government made no concession at the beginning of the debate but made one at the end. I follow that, and I do not complain. Another place has a right to have a debate and to have the Government make a statement. That being so, ought not the Leader of the House to arrange for the appropriate Minister to take the earliest opportunity, namely, today, to inform the House of that decision of the Government? I submit to you, Sir, and to the Leader of the House that the House has not been treated with proper respect in this matter, especially as it is an important matter and a matter of controversy about which there is strong feeling on the opposite side of the House as well as on this side, and I submit that the House ought to have been informed of this decision at the earliest opportunity.

The Lord Privy Seal (Mr. Harry Crookshank)

I do not think I can admit that if statements are made in another place they necessarily and automatically have to be repeated in this place, because the other place is another part of the Legislature and Government statements frequently, in debates or otherwise, have to be made there when an opportunity has not arisen here. However, I would say this to the right hon. Gentleman, that it is the intention of the Home Secretary to make a statement tomorrow.

Mr. Morrison

I am much obliged to the right hon. Gentleman, and I would add, heaven forbid that everything said in another place should be repeated in this place—[Laughter.]—and vice versa, I admit, for the sake of their Lordships. However, I submit to the Leader of the House that there has been a lack of respect to the House of Commons in this matter. If it were a tinpot matter that did not matter it would be another matter, but it has been a subject of sharp cross-questioning in this House, and by both sides of the House, and I think that it is a case of Parliamentary mismanagement that an opportunity was not taken today to make an announcement in the House of Commons.

Mr. Crookshank

In return, I am bound to say that I do not agree.

Dr. Summerskill

I have on this subject supported the Minister and have felt that the Government had done the right thing to abolish the manufacture of heroin. Nevertheless, there has been a conflict of opinion and the House has taken some time in discussing the matter on various occasions at Question Time. Yesterday, the Minister was informed in another place that his legal advisers had misinformed him. Forthwith, the Minister undertook to rescind his previous decision. I certainly support my right hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, South (Mr. H. Morrison). It has been extremely discourteous, particularly to those of us who supported the Minister, for the Minister not to come to the House today to explain the position, particularly with regard to what appears to be a conflict of legal opinion between the Home Office and the Ministry of Health which is extremely serious.

Mr. Speaker

The statement, apparently, is to be made tomorrow. We must compose ourselves with patience until then.