HC Deb 22 June 1976 vol 913 cc1373-6
Mr. Peyton

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. May I ask for your help on a Private Member's Bill entitled the Industrial Common Ownership Bill? The Bill was introduced into the House in December last year and was given an unopposed Second Reading as a Private Member's Bill in March. It is about to go into Committee tomorrow.

At the last moment—that is to say, last night—the Government proceeded in a slightly strange fashion. They tabled amendments to remove seven out of eight of the Bill's clauses and to amend the Long Title of the Bill. I am sure that it will be agreed that that is a slightly odd approach, even in these rather bizarre days. It means that if this kind of procedure is to be continued, the necessity for a Second Reading debate which normally takes place on Government measures will be bypassed. Furthermore, it will mean that Private Members' Bills, which are still a residual privilege of private Members, will be badly abused.

I hope, Mr. Speaker, that you will be able to give the House some guidance in order to safeguard the rights of the House, which seem in this case to be in danger of being badly abused.

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

Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the remarks made by the right hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Peyton), I wish to make some further inquiries about this matter, and I hope to report to the House upon it. I do not know the details of the matter, but I shall examine the situation before we proceed.

Mr. Peyton

I appreciate the right hon. Gentleman's reaction. Am I to understand that the Bill will not be proceeded with until the right hon. Gentleman has had a chance to examine the matter?

Mr. Foot

I imagine that before we deal with the matter, I shall be required to make a statement. Since I have no knowledge of the matters under consideration, I shall immediately examine the situation, communicate with the right hon. Gentleman and make a statement to the House.

Mr. Newens

Has the right hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Peyton) informed my hon. Friend the Member for Consett (Mr. Watkins) of the fact that he sought to raise this matter today? I understand that the Bill is scheduled to go into Committee tomorrow morning. If that is the case, surely the right hon. Member should have informed my hon. Friend that he intended to raise this point on the Bill. Would that not have been the courteous thing to do?

Mr. Peyton

Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. I do not seek to override the rights of the hon. Member for Consett (Mr. Watkins). Indeed, I am seeking to defend him against the intrusions of the Government.

Mr. Foot

Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. I should like to get in touch with my hon. Friend the Member for Consett (Mr. Watkins) so that I may understand the situation. I did not make any statement about holding up the Bill, but in view of what has been said I should like to go into the matter and to communicate with the right hon. Member for Yeovil or with the House. I shall examine the matter and get in touch with my hon. Friend the Member for Consett.

Mr. Peyton

Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. I hope that the right hon. Gentleman will make the position clear before any further proceedings are pursued in relation to the Bill. I hope that he will make the matter clear to me and not just to the Committee concerned.

Mr. Foot

I fully understand the right hon. Gentleman's point. I am seeking to safeguard the position. I must consult my hon. Friend to see what is his attitude. If it is satisfactory to my hon. Friend that these amendments should be made, obviously that is a matter to be taken into account. But I cannot judge the matter until I have had a chance to discuss the situation.

Mr. Peyton

I am sorry to pursue the matter, but I must tell the right hon. Gentleman that he is being a little less than forthcoming on the Bill in question. The Opposition gave the Bill a Second Reading as a Private Member's Bill, and indeed as a non-controversial affair. The Opposition now find the Government coming in on all four feet, and it appears that their attitude has undergone a severe change.

Mr. Foot

I do not withdraw anything I have said. I shall look at the matter urgently. I must take account of my hon. Friend's views and I must weigh that matter. I am sure that the right hon. Gentleman will accept that I have approached the matter in a proper way.

Mr. Speaker

If I may intervene in a point of order, may I say that it would depend on the Chairman of Committees as to which amendments are selected. He may turn down all the Government amendments—in which case he would, of course, make history. It is my concern to protect the rights of this House. I have taken note of the point of order raised by the right hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Peyton) and I think we may leave the matter there. We must move on because we have still not dealt with the Ten Minutes Rule Bill.

Mr. Bowden

There is an important point of principle at stake, Mr. Speaker. If this House gives an unopposed Second Reading to a Bill, it is totally wrong and contrary to precedent that it should be altered by any amendment proposed by the Government at any stage.

Mr. Speaker

That is the same point as that to which I have just referred. I am conscious that I am guardian of the rights of the House, but we shall look carefully at the matter raised by the right hon. Member for Yeovil when the Bill comes back to the House. The Bill is now about to go into Committee and will be the responsibility of the Chairman concerned.