HC Deb 11 July 1977 vol 935 cc24-5
33. Mr. Spearing

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will review his practice of placing motions on EEC documents on the Order Paper without advance notice in the Remaining Orders of the Day.

Mr. Foot

The practice in tabling motions on EEC documents is the same as for other parliamentary business.

Mr. Spearing

Does my right hon. Friend understand that that was a very disappointing answer? Is he aware that motions dealing with EEC documents can be simply to take note or qualified, and that unless the Government table them two or three days in advance of the debate it is impossible for hon. Members to consider what action they may take? Will he reconsider the matter and perhaps table such motions on the Thursday or Friday of the week in which they are announced?

Mr. Foot

My reply may have been disappointing to my hon. Friend, but it is the truth. We are following the normal practice of the House in these matters. If we were to make a change in the procedure—I am not necessarily saying that it should not be done—it would have to be considered by one of the Committees of the House. If my hon. Friend wishes that to be done, I shall certainly look into it. At the moment, we are following the general practice of the House.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

May I ask the Lord President not to take the easy way out? We know that what he is saying on this occasion is the truth, but the fact is that it is an unsatisfactory truth. Will he please take immediate steps to ask the Sessional Committee on Procedure whether it thinks that the practice should be changed?

Mr. Foot

It is not merely on this occasion that I am pronouncing the truth from the Dispatch Box. It is the same as on all previous and on any future occasions. I am prepared to consider whether this matter should be referred to the Procedure Committee. However, I hope that hon. Members realise that this matter raises the much wider question of how motions are to be put down generally.