HC Deb 26 May 1965 vol 713 cc794-5

Order for Second Reading Read.

Motion made, and Question put (pursuant to Standing Order No. 62 (Public Bills relating exclusively to Scotland)), That the Bill be committed to the Scottish Standing Committee.—[Mr. Ross.]

12.47 a.m.

Mr. Forbes Hendry (Aberdeenshire, West)

On a point of Order, Mr. Deputy-Speaker. The House was given notice today on the Order Paper of this Motion, but that was the first intimation. According to Standing Order No. 62, it is competent for any six Members to give notice of an Amendment to the Motion, but because the Notice of Motion was only given on the Order Paper today it was impossible to give notice on the Order Paper of the Amendment. An Amendment was duly handed to the Clerk but cannot be in Order because notice of it has not been given on the Order Paper.

It seems to me and my hon. Friends that the Government have been in contempt of this House in giving inadequate notice of their Motion. I refer you to Erskine May, which states clearly that no particular period of notice is laid down but that, where the business is likely to be controversial, it is customary to give notice on the day before the Motion is to be made. In this case it was within the bounds of possibility that there would be an Amendment to the Motion. In the circumstances, such an Amendment has been made impossible.

I therefore suggest to the Secretary of State that he has treated the House with contempt and that he should take the Motion away and bring it back on another occasion after proper notice has been given and an opportunity afforded to hon. Members to move an Amendment.

Mr. Deputy-Speaker (Dr. Horace King)

I am glad that the hon. Member has made the point at some length. Frankly, I have some sympathy with it. I am, however, bound by the rules of the House and by Standing Orders. This Motion is not debatable. It would have been debatable had it been possible for the hon. Member and his hon. Friends to achieve what apparently was impossible today, and that is to put an Amendment on the Order Paper. I would recommend to him that he take up this matter with the Ministers concerned.

Mr. Henry

Further to that point of order, Mr. Deputy-Speaker. I ask you, as representing Mr. Speaker, to give consideration to this point and consider how the interests of hon. Members might be protected in similar circumstances in future.

Mr. Deputy-Speaker

I am afraid that this is a point of argument between the hon. Gentleman and the Ministers concerned rather than with the Chair. The Chair is bound to preserve the Rules of the House.

Question agreed to.

Bill (deemed to have been read a Second time) committed to the Scottish Standing Committee.