§
Amendment proposed: No. 77, in page 65, line 10, leave out from 'is' to end of line 12 and insert:
'the person against whom the action was taken'.—[Mr. Dudley Smith.]
§ Question put, That the Amendment be made:—
§ The House proceeded to a Division—
§ Mr. Mawby(seated and covered): On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Earlier this evening I raised a point of order concerning the amount of time that was being taken to count the votes in the "No" Lobby. In the last Division there was a majority of 133, yet it took two and a half minutes longer to count the "No" Lobby. Is there any way in which hon. Members can be protected from what appears to be a grave injustice?
Mr. Deputy SpeakerThis might be an opportune moment for me to make an observation on the point which the hon. Gentleman has raised. I would hesitate before doing anything to interfere with the good temper and good humour which has been shown throughout the night. Having said that, I would ask hon. Members of the Opposition to guard against anything which might possibly be construed in any way as dilatoriness in the Lobby. I do not think that anything of the kind has occurred intentionally on their part. [HON. MEMBERS: "Hear, hear".] But at this hour of the night things begin to drag a little sometimes. If we keep ourselves going along in the right way we shall have no trouble.
§ The House having divided: Ayes 257, Noes 135.
§ [For Division List 313 see col. 773.]