HC Deb 20 July 1972 vol 841 cc931-3
Mr. Speaker

Mr. Price, to raise a point of order.

Mr. J. T. Price

I am grateful to vou, Mr. Speaker, for calling me to raise a point of order. I shall not detain the House for more than a few moments.

The point that I wish to raise concerns today's business as set out on the Order Paper on pages 9736 and 9737. Last Thursday the Leader of the House announced the business for this week and in doing so said that the items which now appear on the Order Paper as Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 would be taken on Friday. I notice that at the end of the eight items listed on the Order Paper there appears the name of the hon. Member for Putney (Mr. Hugh Jenkins) who has given notice of his intention to move the Adjournment of the House to debate a subject which has been chosen.

The House is today to continue its consideration of the Local Government Bill. A large number of Amendments remain to be considered, and the general expectation is that the sitting will extend not merely until tomorrow morning but until late enough to rule out to-morrow's business. If that is the general expectation of every intelligent observer of our proceedings, am I in order in inviting you, Mr. Speaker, to say whether the way in which the Order Paper has been printed ending the eight listed items, which in some cases were to-morrow's business, with the Motion for the Adjournment of the House, is in order? Am I right in assuming that the Government and the Leader of the House—who is always at stake in these matters because he announces the business on the previous Thursday—if so minded, could continue today's sitting for as long as they like tomorrow? As I read the Order Paper, it gives the Government the opportunity of pushing in tomorrow's business on to-day's agenda, and that would be a breach of all the established rules of the House as I have understood them for over 22 years.

Mr. Speaker

The Chair must take each day's business as it comes along. With the optimism that the hon. Member would expect from the Chair, I hope that it will all be concluded during today's business and that there will be an opportunity for the House to proceed to constructive discussion of something else tomorrow. That is the situation facing the Chair. There is nothing out of order in what has happened.

Mr. Price

With great respect, Mr. Speaker, and before the Leader of the House answers this conundrum to the best of his ability, the question is whether the Order Paper can be construed by the Government or by the Leader of the Opposition or the Leader of the House as a facility for conducting tomorrow's business today. That is what I wish to know, and that is what you, Mr. Speaker, with great respect, have not answered.

Mr. Speaker

If I have not answered, I had hoped I had.

The Secretary of State for the Home Department, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. Robert Carr)

These items were put on the Order Paper under today's business technically, after discussion through the usual channels as a precaution in case—although it would not be discussed before tomorrow—technically we did not reach tomorrow's business, and if it was the general wish of the House to be able to dispose of these matters before rising for the weekend. I would hope that this will not be necessary. But it was done after discussion.

Mr. Price

I am sorry to be so tenacious about this point, but are we to accept the situation for the convenience of the Government of the day, whatever their political complexion, so that they can juggle with the Order Paper in such a way that they are not faced with the risk of losing business in the precious time still left in this Session? The Leader of the House, in his usual soft and amiable way, may solemnly say that he has no intention of doing injustice to the House. But if he is able to do this, it will be a breach of all our traditions and of the Standing Orders of the House. I was not aware that there had been any discussions through the usual channels. If there have been, I take the strongest objection to any representative of the Opposition involving himself in horse trading of this kind. It is in that sense that I make my protest.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member has made his protest. There is nothing out of order. The Chair has simply to deal with the business. There is nothing in the Standing Orders which says that anything that has happened is wrong.

Mr. R. C. Mitchell

Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. No doubt you will correct me if I am wrong and it is not contained in Standing Orders, but should there not have been another Business Statement before this alteration was made? The business for tomorrow was announced in the Business Statement last Thursday. Should there not have been another statement?

Mr. Speaker

That is not a matter for the Chair.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. According to the Order Paper, we can go up to only the third item because the Business Motion which you, Mr. Speaker, will put at 10 p.m. is that we can have the first three items exempted. Any hon. Member can object to any of the other Motions, and if an hon. Member objects they cannot be taken. As far as I can see, this is simply normal practice.

Mr. Speaker

I will deal with that situation as it arises.