§ Mr. SpeakerOn Thursday last week the hon. Member for Blaby (Mr. Lawson) sought leave, under Standing Order No. 9, to move the Adjournment of the House to discuss the decision of the Committee of Selection. In rejecting the hon. Member's application I said:
It is a very dangerous thing to try to involve the Chair in party arguments on major issues of this sort when the House has been discussing its own decision this afternoon."—[Official Report, 29th April 1976; Vol. 910, c. 578.]The House was very excited, and so was II have reflected on what I said on that occasion. I want to make it quite clear that the hon. Member for Blaby was acting entirely within his rights under Standing Order No. 9 when he made his application.
§ Mr. LawsonI thank you, Mr. Speaker, for that ruling. I thank you not merely for myself, but on behalf of the whole House.