PRIVATE MEMBERS' BILLS (PROCEDURE) (Hansard, 12 July 1974)

§ Mr. Bob Cryer (Keighley)
On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I wonder whether you would draw to the attention of Mr. Speaker the need for reform of the procedures of the House. Hon. Members can call out from a sedentary position and object to legislation, including the Abolition of Tied Cottages Bill, and thereby, without recording their objection, can deny to hundreds of people as the hon. Member for Mid-Bedfordshire (Mr. Hastings) did, in the case of that Bill, the right to live in freedom without fear of eviction. Will you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, draw this system to the attention of Mr. Speaker?

Mr. Deputy Speaker
Order. Perhaps I should explain to the hon. Gentleman that this matter has been considered by the Committee on Procedure, and that it is not a matter for the Chair.

§ Mr. William Molloy (Ealing, North)
Further to that point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. You will recall, Mr. Deputy Speaker, that the hon. Member for Ipswich (Mr. Money)—I regret that he 1850 is no longer in the Chamber—rose to speak, on what I am sure he thought was a genuine point of order, to point out that in the debate a certain amount of time had been taken up by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of Industry and that my hon. Friend had made interventions during the speeches of other hon. Members. But at least there was a debate.
It is a great shame that the hon. Member for Ipswich—this is my point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker—did not remain to say that the hon. Member for Mid-Bedfordshire (Mr. Hastings), from a sedentary position, assassinated a number of very important Bills. Here I support my hon. Friend the Member for Keighley (Mr. Cryer). The hon. Member for Mid-Bedfordshire then just slipped away from the Chamber. No one will know what he has done. Is it not at least the right of people to know who are the slayers of Bills presented to the House of Commons, which so many support, such as the Farriers (Registration) Bill?

Mr. Deputy Speaker
I explained previously to the hon. Member for Keighley (Mr. Cryer) that this matter was considered by the Committee on Procedure, and there the matter rests. It is not a matter for the Chair, and it is not a point of order.

§ Mr. Ivan Lawrence (Burton)
On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Due to the way in which this matter was put by the hon. Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Molloy), the impression has been given that my hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Bedfordshire, who is no longer present. is some sort of murderer. In fact, most of the slaying of these Bills came from the Government side of the House. It is only right—

Mr. Deputy Speaker
Order. I do not think that we want to get into a debate on assassination of Bills. I think that we should let the matter rest, because it is not a point of order.