HC Deb 16 November 1976 vol 919 cc1141-236

As amended (in the Standing Committee), considered.

4.46 p.m.

Mr. Michael English (Nottingham, West)

On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. You will of course realise that I am no way challenging Mr. Speaker's selection of amendments. However, I should like to ask you when it will be possible with the amendments selected, to discuss the influence of public money given to authors upon what they may write—which was my New Gause 1—or the subject of the interests of Members of Parliament in this Bill—which was my New Clause 2?

I do not wish to suggest that the order of selection be changed. I merely wish to inquire whether these two subjects, which were not discussed in Committee, may be discussed on the Floor of the House.

Mr. Deputy Speaker (Sir Myer Galpern)

As the hon. Gentleman rightly points out, Mr. Speaker has not selected and has ruled out of order the new clauses to which he has referred. At what stage the hon. Gentleman will be able to discuss the particular subjects that he has just mentioned is difficult for the occupant of the Chair to say at the present time. Whenever we reach an amendment and the hon. Gentleman thinks his particular subject fits in with that amendment, he may get up, and if the occupant of the Chair thinks that the hon. Gentleman is in order, he will be allowed to continue. If the hon. Gentleman is not in order, he will be asked to resume his seat.

Mr. English

I am grateful to you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, but I am sure that you will realise that no one would wish to leave this Report stage and say that neither on Report nor in Committee was it possible to discuss whether some Members of Parliament were interested parties, in this Bill, or whether the fact that taxpayers' money was being given to authors might influence them.

Mr. Deputy Speaker

The hon. Gentleman appreciates my problem. Because the new clauses have not been selected, these matters may not be discussed. That is as far as I can go.

Mr. English

Further to that point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. That is precisely the point I was trying to make. In that case I would suggest that hon. Members are gagged from saying that this Bill is simply put through as a means of expressing the vested interests of certain hon. Members.

Mr. Deputy Speaker

I doubt very much whether that is a point of order

  1. Clause 1
      2. cc1142-236
    1. ESTABLISHMENT OF PUBLIC LENDING RIGHT 35,961 words, 2 divisions
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