§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsI beg to ask leave, Mr. Deputy Speaker, to move the Adjournment of the House, under Standing Order No. 9 for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter——
§ Mr. Deputy SpeakerOrder. I am afraid that I cannot accept such a motion at this time. It is too late. Page 312 of Erskine May lays down quite clearly when such motions may be received.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsOn a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Could you clarify this position because this is a matter of great importance and I believe that the House would wish to debate it? It concerns the lack of secrecy during the miners' ballot tomorrow. This has come to my notice since I came into the House this morning.
§ Mr. Deputy SpeakerOrder. I am very sorry but I am afraid that I cannot accept this motion from the hon. Gentleman. I owe him and the House a full apology for having given him the wrong advice when he came to see me. In my ignorance of the conduct of matters from this position I thought that he could move his motion now. I realise that I made a mistake. Such a motion must be taken before a Ten-Minute Bill.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsFurther to that point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I am grateful for the kind words which you have spoken. Nevertheless it places hon. Members in a difficult position since this is a matter of great importance.
§ Mr. Deputy SpeakerI should of course remind the hon. Gentleman that motions seeking leave to raise matters under Standing Order No. 9 ought to be in the hands of Mr. Speaker—and today, in the absence of Mr. Speaker, myself—by twelve o'clock noon so as to give time for consideration.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsWith great respect I did not get this information from the coalfields until just after twelve o'clock. I then had to check to see that it was accurate and that there would indeed be 456 no secrecy in this ballot. That is the reason for the urgency, if the ballot is to take place tomorrow.
§ Mr. Deputy SpeakerI am sorry. I am completely barred from helping the hon. Gentleman. I shall have to ask him to leave it at that.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsFurther to my point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. May I give notice that I will seek to raise this matter tomorrow?
§ Dame Irene WardFurther to that point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. In this free House of Commons, when there is a matter which is causing the greatest possible concern do we not have some way of arranging to debate it? This is of the greatest possible urgency. It is ridiculous that we cannot debate it.
§ Mr. Deputy SpeakerOrder. The only point at issue is whether it can be raised under Standing Order No. 9 and I am afraid that it cannot.
§ Dame Irene WardHow can the matter be raised?
§ Mr. Deputy SpeakerPerhaps the hon. Lady will come to see me later.
§ Mr. Arthur LewisFurther to that point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Is it not the case that if this is such a grave and important matter the hon. Member for Derbyshire, West (Mr. Scott-Hopkins) could get the Government to move the Adjournment of the House? We could then postpone the business on the Order Paper and debate the issue. It must be obvious that it is not all that important.
§ Mr. Deputy SpeakerThat is not a point of order for me.
Mrs. Kellet-BowmanOn a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Can you advise me how I can get the matter of lack of secrecy in the miners' ballot put before the House today?
§ Mr. Deputy SpeakerI am afraid that I cannot advise the hon. Lady on that at present. If she sees me later I may be able to help her, although I do not think so.