HC Deb 22 May 1969 vol 784 cc684-816

As amended (in the Standing Committee), considered.

4.25 p.m.

Mr. Speaker

I have posted, as is my custom, the Amendments which I have selected. The hon. and learned Member for Crosby (Mr. Graham Page) has asked whether I might, at the end of this first debate, allow a Division on Amendment (b) on page 4890 and Amendment (e) on page 4891.

I am willing to allow those Divisions. We will now take new Clause 1 plus new Clauses 17 and 18, on which I am prepared to allow a Division when we get to them, if we get to them today, plus Government Amendment 125, and the Amendment to that Amendment—all this in the first debate.

Mr. Frank Allaun (Salford, East)

A point of order. Mr. Speaker. As you know, I am not one of those hon. Members who often raises points of procedure, but on this occasion I do ask you very seriously to consider the calling of new Clauses 6 and 7, neither of which were discussed in Committee, on the following grounds—

Mr. Speaker

Order. I am not prepared to discuss with the hon. Gentleman the selection of Amendments. The Chair gives quite a lot of consideration to the selection of Amendments. In doing so, it is bound to displease many people on the Report stage. On the selection I have made, I call the first one.

Mr. Allaun

I repeat, Mr. Speaker, that I am not one to challenge your Ruling, but on this point it seems to me that the trebling of the rents of 400,000 families is involved and that will otherwise not be discussed during the Report stage. There will be no chance of doing so. Surely, it is derogatory to the proper functioning of Parliament, and its good name, if such important matters are not to be discussed here in the House of Commons.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Gentleman, in spite of his profession, is challenging the Ruling which I have made. I have made a selection and I must stand by that selection.

  1. New Clause
    1. cc685-737
    2. POWER TO INCREASE SUBSIDY FOR OPTION MORTGAGES 20,783 words, 2 divisions
  2. New Clause 2
    1. cc737-71
    2. PRICE PAYABLE ON ENFRANCHISEMENT OF LEASEHOLD HOUSE 13,323 words
  3. New Clause 3
    1. cc771-88
    2. OTHER LONG TENANCIES 6,696 words, 1 division
  4. New Clause 4
    1. cc789-816
    2. RESTRICTION ON POWERS OF COURT UNDER SECTION 56 10,957 words
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