§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ Second Reading deferred till Friday next.
§ 4.10 p.m.
§ Mr. Roy Roebuck (Harrow, East)On a point of order. In view of the fact that the Division which we have just had demonstrates clearly in arithmetical terms that there has been a gross abuse of the House by hon. Members opposite, who contended that there was genuine opposition to the Conservation of Seals Bill, will you, Mr. Speaker, tell us what remedy the majority have and how they can satisfy the overwhelming view of the country against blood sports in such a way that this House, which is the forum of the nation, can debate the Deer Hunt-
§ ing and Hare Coursing Abolition Bill and produce legislation which has the overwhelming support of the populace?
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Quite easily, when the Bill gets a Second Reading debate.
§ Mr. James Wellbeloved (Erith and Crayford)Further to that point of order. It has been clearly demonstrated that the overwhelming wish of the House is to pass the Deer Hunting and Hare Coursing Abolition Bill. I want to make it clear that my hon. Friend the Member for Kingston upon Hull, North (Mr. McNamara) and I acted as Tellers in the last Division to expose the tactics of the Conservative Opposition and, in particular, those of the hon. Member who just now objected to the Deer Hunting and Hare Coursing Abolition Bill.
§ Mr. RoebuckName him.
§ Mr. WellbelovedIt was the hon. Member for Gainsborough (Mr. Kimball). It is time that the will of the country and of this House was expressed by the passage of the Deer Hunting and Hare Coursing Abolition Bill.
§ Mr. SpeakerNext Bill.
§ Mr. Ian Mikardo (Poplar)On a point of order. Will you advise me, Mr. Speaker, by what means I can make it known that for the rest of this Session any Conservative Member who has a Private Members' Bill to sponsor had better get 100 supporters here on that Friday, otherwise he will not get his Bill?
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I think that the hon. Member has made that known. Next Bill.