HC Deb 20 May 1977 vol 932 c954
Mr. Hugh Rossi (Hornsey)

On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. My point concerns the appearance on the Order Paper today of the Money Resolution relating to the Housing (Homeless Persons) Bill, when the House will recall that at Business Time on Thursday a week ago I raised the fact that it had come to my attention that on the following day, Friday, the Government had intended to put down this motion without giving the House any advance warning of their intention to do so. That information had come to me from outside sources. In other words, people outside the House had known before hon. Members had been informed what the business of the House was to be.

As a result of the questions directed to the Leader of the House, he eventually decided that he would withdraw the Money Resolution for that following Friday. But it seems that the lesson that was learned last week has not been learned this week, because again no mention has been made to the House at any time at business, either last Thursday or yesterday, that the House would be confronted with this Money Resolution.

Yet this morning we find this Money Resolution on our Order Paper relating to the Housing (Homeless Persons) Bill although hon. Members have not been given proper warning. I know that there is a great deal of anxiety in the country as a whole. I would venture to say, without any hesitation, that—

Mr. Deputy Speaker (Sir Myer Galpern)

Order. What is the hon. Gentleman's point of order to the Chair?

Mr. Rossi

My point of order is whether it is within your discretion to have this Money Resolution deleted from the Order Paper today for further consideration at a time when hon. Members have an opportunity to consider it and apply their minds to it as well as to outside representations.

Mr. Deputy Speaker

As the hon. Gentleman well knows, the arrangement of the business of the House is not a matter for the Chair.