HC Deb 20 July 1976 vol 915 cc1525-6
Mr. Peyton

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I wish to raise a question of procedure involving today's business. Yesterday you made it quite clear that you would be able to call a Division only on the motion under discussion, on the main Question, when the knife fell. Today you have in your wisdom selected quite a number of amendments in the names of my right hon. Friends and myself. We have on the Order Paper today a procedure motion which, had the Government wished, could have been put in what I would best describe as the live section of the Order Paper. This would have given the House an opportunity not to discuss but to decide those amendments which you have selected.

The Leader of the House was given notice of our intention to put down that motion in the hope that he might react in an appropriate fashion. He has done nothing of the kind. The right hon. Gentleman is very fond of saying that it is for the House to decide such matters. We are very disappointed, but not very surprised, that once again he is denying the House the opportunity to make such a decision on these very important issues.

Mr. Neil Kinnock (Bedwellty)

I realise, Mr. Speaker, that this is a matter which only you can consider, but, as a general guide to the conduct of business, is it not spurious to raise the question of an amendment, since obviously the only time an amendment can be out is when the Question can be put? The yah-booing of the right hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Peyton) about this question at this stage is counter-productive.

Mr. Speaker

The right hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Peyton) understands that I am limited by the rules of the House.