HC Deb 04 March 1976 vol 906 cc1545-6
Mr. Michael Latham

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I seek your guidance on an important matter. I am sorry not to have given notice of it.

I refer to motions Nos. 6 and 7, on the Orders of the Day, which are to be taken under Standing Order 73A(5), which means that the Question is to be decided forthwith. They are concerned with the relationship between this House and the Church of England, which is a constitutional problem of very great delicacy.

I do not necessarily quarrel with the fact that these motions were sent to a Standing Committee upstairs. Under Standing Order 73A(2), any Member may take part in that Committee but shall not vote or make any motion or move any amendment". But I suggest that it is an undesirable practice that motions relating to the Church of England should be taken upstairs, because of the great constitutional delicacy of this matter.

Mr. Speaker

I have listened carefully to the hon. Gentleman, but I understand that the motions are perfectly in order. If they were not, they would not be on the Order Paper.

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