HC Deb 21 May 1957 vol 570 cc1041-3

3.39 p.m.

The Deputy-Chairman of Ways and Means (Sir Gordon Touche)

I wish to inform you, Mr. Speaker, that at the end of the debate on the National Health Service Contributions Bill last night I put the Question for the Third Reading of the Bill by inadvertence and I wish to express my regret to you, Sir, and to the House.

Motion made, and Question proposed,

That the proceedings on the Third Reading of the National Health Service Contributions Bill yesterday be null and void and that the Bill be read the Third time Tomorrow.—[Mr. Heath.]

Mr. Sydney Silverman (Nelson and Colne)

This is a very remarkable proposition that the Patronage Secretary has made. It may be that there are very good reasons for it and that the House would be right to agree to the Motion, but, speaking purely for myself, I should not like to give a vote one way or the other merely on the explanation of the matter that the Patronage Secretary has so far accorded us. May we be told why it is necessary to declare null and void the proceedings of the House of Commons, taken in the ordinary form, on an ordinary day, in accordance with the Order Paper and, so far as we knew, in accordance with the practice of the House? What has happened? What is wrong with it?

Mr. Speaker

As I understand the matter, this Bill originated in Committee of Ways and Means, and it is the practice of the House not to take two subsequent stages of such a Bill on the same day unless a Motion is first put down saying that notwithstanding the practice of the House we can proceed with the Bill. The Motion which has now been moved by the right hon. Gentleman is restoring the practice of the House and is in defence of the rights of hon. Members.

Mr. James Griffiths (Llanelly)

While we all accept at once the statement by the Deputy-Chairman of Ways and Means that while in the Chair last evening he put the Question for Third Reading by inadvertence, in view of the feeling of the House would it not be better if the Patronage Secretary moved to withdraw the Bill and to declare the Second Reading null and void?

Mr. Speaker

These are matters of speculation, and that Motion is not before me at the moment.

Question put and agreed to.

Resolved,

That the proceedings on the Third Reading of the National Health Service Contributions Bill yesterday be null and void and that the Bill be read the Third time Tomorrow.

BILL PRESENTED

WINFRITH HEATH

Bill to extinguish rights of common and other rights, in so far as any such rights subsist in or over certain land in the parish of Winfrith Newburgh in the county of Dorset; to provide for determining the nature of the said rights, in so far as they subsist in or over that land. and the persons entitled thereto, and to provide for compensation in respect of the extinguishment thereof; and for purposes connected with the matters aforesaid, presented by the Prime Minister; supported by the Attorney-General, Mr. Heathcoat Amory, and Mr. Maudling; read the First time; to be read a Second time Tomorrow and to be printed. [Bill 89.]