HC Deb 17 December 1976 vol 922 cc1931-2
Mr. Jerry Wiggin (Weston-super-Mare)

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. May I draw your attention to the events that occurred at the Table of the House last night after you had read out the result of the Division on the Second Reading of the Scotland and Wales Bill?

You will be aware that it has become the practice—it is a good practice—for the tabling of Committee stage amendments to Bills to be done in the Public Bill Office, behind your Chair. The Clerks rightly decided that on the occasion of such a major Bill the former and more formal practice of tabling amendments at the Table should be followed.

I took the trouble to be early through the Division Lobby and to sit near to the chair in which the Clerk sits. On his return from handing the result of the Division to you, Mr. Speaker, I and others pressed upon him our amendments. In the event, the Clerk marked the amendments in the name of my right hon. Friend the Member for Cambridgeshire (Mr. Pym) No. 1 and mine No. 2. This incensed me at the time, and I made protests to him. He subsequently assured me that there was no malice aforethought and that the amendments were numbered as they came to him, and I entirely accept that explanation.

I am raising this matter with you, Mr. Speaker, not because I feel frustrated but because a serious point arises on a Bill of this nature in that when the marshalled list is printed the first mover of an amendment will be called by the Chairman of the Committee. That will no doubt affect the political tone of the debate and lead to some amendments taking substantially more time than others.

There are solutions which would go a long way to solving the problem of what in effect is a rugger scrum at the Table to gain the first attentions of the Clerk. I spoke briefly to the Leader of the House, and I am glad that he has been able to break an engagement to hear my point of order. We have a duty to prevent the Clerk from being put in this position and to prevent the Floor of the House from being brought into disrepute, often in an emotional way.

The Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. Michael Foot)

I make no comment—and no criticism of anyone—on what may have happened last night. If the House wishes and it is thought advisable, we shall be prepared to refer the general question to the Committee on Procedure to recommend how such difficulties might be avoided in future.

Mr. Speaker

I am much obliged to the Leader of the House. May I say to the hon. Member for Weston-super-Mare (Mr. Wiggin) that I have been given a full report of what happened and, of course, I was in the Chair and saw some of the activities. The hon. Gentleman, who was originally first in the queue, was defeated by someone getting in front of him and leaving his papers on the Table. If the Leader of the House is prepared to take this matter to the Procedure Committee, I think that the best course would be to leave it there.

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