§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, That the Bill be now read a Second time.
§ Mr. SpeakerBefore I call the first hon. Member to address the House on the Consolidated Fund (No. 2) Bill, the House should know that there are 19 topics which hon. Members seek to raise on Second Reading of the Bill. On the first topic, 33 right hon. and hon. Gentlemen have already intimated that they wish to speak. This is unusual. Obviously, I must protect other hon. Members and move away from the first debate at some time during the long debate ahead of us—at some time at which I judge the House will think it reasonable to do so.
I have one other observation of detail—topics Nos. 4 and 8, in the names of the hon. Member for Oldham, East (Mr. Mapp) and the hon. and learned Member for Southport (Mr. Percival), are identical and will be taken together, and topic No. 17 has been withdrawn.