§ The Secretary of State for the Home Department and Lord Privy Seal (Mr. R. A. Butler)I beg to move,
That during the absence of the Chairman of Ways and Means, owing to temporary indisposition. Major Sir William Anstruther-Gray shall be appointed an additional Deputy-Chairman of Ways and Means and shall be entitled to exercise all the powers vested in the Deputy-Chairman of Ways and Means, including his powers as Deputy-Speaker.I have it in command from Her Majesty to acquaint the House that Her Majesty, having been informed of the subject matter of this Motion empowering a member of the Chairmen's Panel to act as Speaker, gives Her consent thereto.The House is aware that the Chairman of Ways and Means has to undergo an operation. We all regret his absence and hope that he will soon be fit and well and able to resume his duties.
In order, Mr. Speaker, that the Deputy-Chairman may receive some relief in the Chair, the hon. and gallant Member for Berwick and East Lothian (Sir W. Anstruther-Gray) has kindly agreed to act temporarily as an additional Deputy-Chairman of Ways and Means. I therefore commend this Motion to the House.
§ Mr. GaitskellMy right hon. and hon. Friends would wish to be associated with the remarks of the Leader of the House about the regrettable illness of the Chairman of Ways and Means and to express the hope, as he has done, that he will recover very speedily. We would also like to express our good wishes to the hon. and gallant Member for Berwick and East Lothian (Sir W. Anstruther-Gray) in taking on this somewhat onerous duty.
§ Question put and agreed to.