HC Deb 10 November 1969 vol 791 cc37-8
Mr. English

I wish to raise a matter of which, through the Clerk's Department, I have given you notice, Mr. Speaker.

I desire to move the Adjournment of the House under Standing Order No. 9 for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter which should have urgent consideration, namely, whether Her Majesty's Government advised His Royal Highness Prince Philip to make the statement he made in the United States regarding the Civil List, or were informed in advance of it, and whether they propose to introduce legislation to amend the Civil List Act, 1952, or to amend the Finance Act so as to subject Her Majesty to taxation. I think that the matter is clearly specific, and that it is important is, I would suggest, made obvious by the fact that it has been referred to publicly by Front Benchers in the House as well as by the person mentioned in my proposed Motion. That it is urgent was stated, I think, by His Royal Highness himself, in the television broadcast.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member for Nottingham, West (Mr. English) was courteous enough to inform me this morning that he would make this application under Standing Order No. 9 this afternoon.

The hon. Member asks leave to move the Adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter which he thinks should have urgent consideration, namely, whether Her Majesty's Government advised His Royal Highness Prince Philip to make the statement he made in the United States regarding the Civil List, or were informed in advance of it, and whether they propose to introduce legislation to amend the Civil List Act, 1952, or to amend the Finance Act so as to subject Her Majesty to taxation. As the House knows, under the revised Standing Order No. 9 I am directed to take into account the several factors set out in the Standing Order but to give no reason for my decision.

I have listened to the hon. Member and have given careful consideration to the representations he has made, and to what I have read and heard; but I have to rule that the hon. Member's submission does not fall within the provisions of the revised Standing Order, and, therefore, I cannot submit his application to the House.