HC Deb 01 February 1974 vol 868 cc838-9

Order for Second Reading read.

Hon. Members

Object——

Mr. Marcus Lipton (Brixton)

I am in some difficulty, Mr. Deputy Speaker, because of the ruling given by——

Mr. Deputy Speaker (Mr. Oscar Murton)

Order. It is necessary for the hon. Gentleman to name a day if he so wishes.

Mr. Lipton

I wish to name a day within the terms of the ruling given on 25th January by Mr. Speaker in which he sets out the various possibilities open to a private Member in charge of a Bill. There are four of them. The first is that the Member in charge of the Bill may himself name a further day for consideration of the Bill". The second is that another Member, acting on behalf of the Member in charge of the Bill, may name a day". The third is that the Member in charge of the Bill or another Member on his behalf may have given written instructions to the Clerks at the Table". The fourth is that no day may be named by any of these methods, in which case the Bill becomes a dropped order".—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 25th January 1974; Vol. 867, c. 2049.] As only one Member—the hon. Member for Gainsborough (Mr. Kimball)—opposes the Bill, I should like to select a Friday when the hon. Member will not be present in the House.

Mr. Deputy Speaker

The hon. Gentleman must make up his mind. I shall be grateful if he will do so.

Mr. Lipton

In view of your advice, Mr. Deputy Speaker, I have decided to choose a day which will enable the public to let the hon. Member for Gainsborough know what they think about his attitude. I therefore choose 3rd May.

Second Reading deferred till Friday 3rd May.