§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Michael Cocks)I beg to move,
That Mr. Speaker do issue his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown to make out a new Writ for the electing of a Member to serve in this present Parliament in the borough constituency of Birmingham, Ladywood in the room of Alasdaire Brian Walden, Esq., who, since his election for the said borough constituency, hath accepted the Office of Steward or Bailiff of Her Majesty's Three Chiltern Hundreds of Stoke, Desborough and Burnham in the County of Buckingham.In moving the writ for Birmingham, Ladywood, which has been vacant since 16th June, I appreciate that this is an unusual, though not unprecedented, time. The House has felt in the past that electors should not be unrepresented for a period of more than three months. There is an understanding that writs are moved, so far as possible, within three months, and Select Committees have reported on this, as the House will know. It is an accepted way in which the parties may proceed.
§ Question put and agreed to.