HC Deb 10 November 1977 vol 938 cc852-3
Mr. Adley

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I believe that I am right in thinking that your selection of speakers takes cognisance not of party but of point of view. I believe that I am also right in saying that you are in your Chair to attempt to ensure that minorities have an opportunity to express their views.

May I, in these circumstances, Mr. Speaker, ask you with respect yet again to relate the position of the Liberal Party to its current behaviour? It is not at this moment a minority party. It is a supporter of the Government. If its members refuse to make your job easier because they have neither the honesty nor the courage to sit where they should sit in the House, may I ask you to select speakers by voice and vote rather than by party label?

Mr. Speaker

Order. I hope to clear this matter up once and for all. The House will be aware that it is my responsibility, of which I am very conscious, to see that every point of view in the House has a chance to be aired.

Secondly, the House will be aware that it has been my custom on many occasions—certainly during the debate on the Loyal Address in reply to the Gracious Speech—to call two hon. Members from the Opposition side, because of minority parties—and I have linked them with the majority Opposition party—to one from the Government side, much to the irritation of some hon. Members. I can only do my best, but I want to make it quite clear that, so far as I am concerned, 1 acknowledge parties in the House, and what they do is their concern.

Mr. Adley

Further to that point of order. Mr. Speaker. Relating what you have just said to yesterday's events, during questions on the brief statement by the Home Secretary on the firemen's dispute, there were two Members whom you called who are opposed in principle—not on this issue, of course—to the Government and four who support the Government. In the debate yesterday on the employment section of the Queen's Speech only eight of the 20 speakers whom you called finished in the Lobby opposing the Government. May I ask you to look at this once again?

Mr. Speaker

Order. I will not sit here and listen to any analysis of how I call hon. Members. I shall count 10.

Later—

Mr. Farr

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I sought to catch your eye earlier on the question raised by my hon. Friend the Member for Christchurch and Lymington (Mr. Adley) when he asked you about the position of the Liberal Party in the House—

Mr. Speaker

Order. I can save the hon. Gentleman's time. I have given a firm ruling to the House. I intend to stand by it and to recognise parties, as I have said.

Mr. Farr

I fully recognise that, Mr. Speaker. Naturally, I was not seeking to question the decision which you gave the House very properly a minute or two ago, but, with the greatest respect, what you failed to appreciate fully, Mr. Speaker, was that it is also the wish of many of us on the Conservative Benches that you will be able to offer some helpful advice to Liberal Members as to where they should physically sit in the House today.