§ Mr. SpeakerBefore the debate begins on the motion in the name of the right hon. Member for Farnham (Mr. Macmillan)—
That, in the opinion of this House, the ruling given by the Chairman of Ways and Means on Thursday, 10th February 1977, in selecting for debate in Committee of the whole House on the Scotland and Wales Bill the Procedure Motion, new Clause 40 and Amendment 679, all in the name of the Leader of the House, ought not to be cited or drawn into precedent on any future occasion.—I have a short statement to make to the House which I hope will be of some assistance. I am making this statement after consultation with the Chairman of Ways and Means and Mr. Deputy Speaker and with his full agreement.If I had still been Chairman of Ways and Means, I should have taken exactly the same decision as was taken by the present Chairman of Ways and Means. In the circumstances surrounding the Committee stage of the Scotland and Wales Bill, I believe that the Chairman of Ways and Means was entirely correct in what he did. Nevertheless, I am of the firm opinion that the ruling made on that occasion does not of necessity apply to all future Bills. Every Bill has to be looked at on its merits.
I am, therefore, ruling that the decision referred to in the motion is not one that is regarded as a binding precedent for future legislation. The House should bear in mind the discretion of the Chair in the selection of amendments. I am deeply conscious that the Speaker of the House is, in a special sense, the guardian of our unwritten constitution. It is because of the responsibility that I feel in this regard that I have made this statement.
§ Mr. Maurice Macmillan (Farnham)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I seek your advice. The motion is critical of the 539 Chair only in a technical sense. It does not question the correctness of the Chairman's ruling, which you have now confirmed. My anxiety was that it might have been possible at some time in the future for the ruling to have been distorted, or unfair advantage to be taken of it, in greatly differing circumstances. Your expansion of the original ruling by the Chairman of Ways and Means has removed all anxiety on that score and has removed all danger of a false precedent being set where none was intended. In those circumstances I shall not seek to move the motion.
§ Mr. SpeakerI hope that that is in accordance with the will of the House.