HC Deb 10 June 1964 vol 696 cc443-4
Mr. Ellis Smith

I want to raise a point of order. It would not be in order for me to make any comment at this stage on what I want to raise. I want to ask Mr. Speaker a number of questions. Firstly, will he make a study of columns 775 to 780 of the OFFICIAL REPORT of another place, published today, dealing with the Manchester Corporation and Lakeland water? Will Mr. Speaker, in making his study of those columns, first consider whether the authorities in another place were in order in allowing this matter even to be put on the Order Paper?

Secondly, will Mr. Speaker, when studying this matter have regard to the special Parliamentary procedure which is now laid down for the guidance of both Houses of Parliament? Will Mr. Speaker also consider whether the authorities of another place in allowing this matter to appear on the Order Paper were not prejudging the constitutional public inquiry which usually takes place on matters of this kind? Will Mr. Speaker, when considering this, consider the passing of the Water Resources Act and the responsebilities of Government Departments for dealing with this matter? Finally, will Mr. Speaker consider the observations made by Lord Morrison in particular?

Mr. Speaker

I do not quite understand, with due respect to the hon. Member, where I come into this at all. It does not seem to be suggested that there is any point of order which arises now. In the circumstances, I shall give myself the great pleasure of studying what the hon. Member has said and, if there should be anything I can do to help him in any way without impropriety I will do it, but at the moment I find the matter a little obscure.

Mr. Ellis Smith

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Further to that point of order, when Mr. Speaker has studied this, he will find that in a number of Acts of Parliament other people have certain rights. I understand that it is Mr. Speaker's duty to defend the elected Members of this House and to see that they are helped.

Mr. Speaker

I am an enthusiast for defending the rights of hon. Members of this House.