HC Deb 12 December 1967 vol 756 cc382-3
Mr. Crossman

I beg to move,

That, during the present Session, notice of a subject to be raised on any motion for which a ballot is held in pursuance of paragraph (7) of Standing Order No. 5 (Precedence of government business) shall, notwithstanding the practice of the House, be given at the Table or in the Table Office not less than nine days before the day on which the notice of motion is to have precedence:

Provided that no such notice shall be given on a day on which the House does not sit.

This is the last of the Motions we wish to put tonight, and I hope that, in moving this one, we will not be accused of dictatorial conduct, since this is a unanimous recommendation of the Select Committee on Procedure and, I suggest, is a slight improvement on the way in which we conduct our Ballot for Private Members' Motions.

The proposal is to allow hon. Members to make their Motions more topical; to draft them nearer the event instead of having to state them the moment that successful hon. Members are called. For this purpose, hon. Members should be given a number of days to choose their subjects, and while this may take an element of drama and surprise away from the Ballot, it should improve the quality of debate.

Question put and agreed to.

Resolved,

That, during the present Session, notice of a subject to be raised on any motion for which a ballot is held in pursuance of paragraph (7) of Standing Order No. 5 (Precedence of government business) shall, notwithstanding the practice of the House, be given at the Table or in the Table Office not less than nine days before the day on which the notice of motion is to have precedence:

Provided that no such notice shall be given on a day on which the House does not sit.