HC Deb 02 March 1972 vol 832 cc768-70
Mr. Arthur Lewis

I am very much obliged to you, Mr. Speaker, for calling me on this point of order. I wanted to raise a point of order with you, and I am sorry if I appeared to be impetuous but I wanted to do so within the hearing of the Leader of the House. I was afraid that he might leave the Chamber. My point of order may be for you to deal with or for the Leader of the House, or probably jointly.

Earlier this afternoon, Mr. Speaker, you will recollect that hon. Members on both sides of the House raised the question—I hope that the Leader of the House will listen to me.

The Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. William Whitelaw)

I am listening.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

The Leader of the House was not present, Mr. Speaker, when you were put into a difficult situation. This is a serious point. The Leader of the House has not only got the House and hon. Members into a difficult situation but also, with respect, he is getting you, Mr. Speaker, into a difficult situation. When the House met this afternoon we did not have Order Papers and could not know the Questions that were to be asked. That is an innovation that I have not known in 27 years' experience in the House. Hon. Members had to read out their Questions because there was no Order Paper.

Mr. Speaker

Order. Perhaps I can shorten this. I quite agree that it was unfortunate and that we had a minute or two of difficulty during which one Question was read out by an hon. Member. I have made inquiries into this matter. I think that there was some misunderstanding in Her Majesty's Stationery Office which led to this difficulty. I do not think that any blame should be attached to any Officer of the House; but there was a misunderstanding which led to an unfortunate situation.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

I was not for a moment about to say that the Officers of the House were in any way concerned. I was about to pay tribute to them for the fact that when we have had difficulties in the past—

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Gentleman rose on a point of order, but a point of order is not the appropriate vehicle by which to pay tribute to the Officers of the House.

Mr. Lewis

But, with respect, Mr. Speaker, you interrupted me before I reached my point of order, and, therefore, you gave me the opportunity of saying that the Officers of the House have always been helpful. But my point is that the Leader of the House has done nothing about the situation, and I am concerned about next week. Next week we are likely to have problems again, not only because 150 hon. Members will be in Committee and unable to attend the House, but also because we probably will not get the proper papers and documents.

The Leader of the House has not laid on the Floor of the House the proper documents, and we cannot obtain our papers. Would you, Mr. Speaker, ask the Leader of the House to ensure that hon. Members are treated decently, as they have not been so treated since the E.E.C. Bill has been on the stocks? Would you request the Leader of the House to see that we are given some consideration during next week?

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member has made his point.