§
Motion made, and Question proposed,
That the Motion relating to Members' Interests (Declaration) (No. 2) and any amendment thereto which may be selected by Mr. Speaker may be made after the time for opposed Business, and if so made, the Questions thereon shall be put forthwith.—[Mr. Walter Harrison.]
§ Mr. SpeakerBefore the business motion is proceeded with further I should indicate, with regard to the two motions, that it is my intention to select both amendments. Both the motions and the amendments may be discussed together. The motion now before the House would enable them to be voted upon after 10 o'clock.
§ Mr. SpearingI appreciate the point you have made, Mr. Speaker, particularly in respect of the amendment of my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Mr. Golding), because it enables it to be taken after 10 o'clock.
§ Mr. SpeakerVoted on after 10 o'clock.
§ Mr. SpearingThere is a secondary effect of a business motion of this type which I think has been drawn to the attention of the House and the Government previously and which is less desirable. This is that it would be possible, although we hope that it will not happen, for the next business, on this occasion the Social Security Pensions Bill Report stage and Third Reading, to last much longer than expected. If it finishes at around 7 p.m.. which I understand is the desire, we shall have three hours to discuss the important business of Members' interests, but if it does not, or if on a future occasion the previous business lasts longer than expected, the amount of time available for the second business will be correspondingly reduced.
It is conceivable, although I think improbable, for the Social Security Pensions Bill to take us within an hour or even half an hour of 10 o'clock, and therefore we should have only that amount of time to deal with the motion and amendments on Members' interests.
Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I ask through you whether the Government will undertake that if the business on Members' interests is not started before 7.30 p.m., 673 they will consider adjourning it at 10 o'clock so that it can be taken later if more hon. Members wish to speak.
§ Mr. SpeakerI think that the Chair comes into this. It is for me to allow a motion to adjourn a debate. The Government cannot put such a motion without my permission. We must see how we go. I have no doubt that the matter will be considered in a reasonable light. I think that it is the desire of the whole House that the two motions and the amendments should be properly debated. We shall deal with the situation that the hon. Gentleman described if we come to it.
§ Question put and agreed to