HC Deb 05 March 1971 vol 812 cc2186-7

Order for Second Reading read.

Hon. Members

Object.

Second Reading deferred till Friday next.

Mr. Wellbeloved

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. When you put for Second Reading the Public Health Act (Amendment) Bill, you did not take any note of objection, if indeed one was raised. You put the Question "That the Bill be read a Second time." The voices were collected. It was only after that point that voices called out "Object". Is it not the case that as you put the Question and the voices were collected the Bill has received a Second Reading?

Sir John Langford-Holt (Shrewsbury)

Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. I did not myself take objection to that Bill but I can vouch for the fact that there was a voice behind me, which I have not yet identified, which took objection to that Bill, as well as the voice of another of my hon. Friends.

Mr. Wellbeloved

That may or may not be correct. The point I was putting is that you did not hear the objection Mr. Speaker. You put to the House the Second Reading, the voices were collected, and the Bill should have received a Second Reading.

Mr. Speaker

The fault is entirely mine. I am advised that it is correct that the word "Object" was shouted, but I did not hear it. The mistake was mine. I think that the matter must stand where it does.

Mr. Wellbeloved

If I may make a further submission to you, Mr. Speaker. There may well have been an error on your part: I do not know. All I know is that the Question was put, the voices were collected and the Bill was read a Second time.

Mr. Speaker

I think I had corrected it sufficiently closely to the point of error really for the matter to stand as it now rests.