HC Deb 08 February 1978 vol 943 cc1463-630

[2ND ALLOTTED DAY]

Considered in Committee. [Progress, 2nd February]

[Mr. OSCAR MURTON in the Chair]

4.0 p.m.

Mr. Nigel Spearing (Newham, South)

On a point of order, Mr. Murton. You may recall that at the last sitting of the Committee there was some difficulty over matters of legal interpretation. Requests were made for Law Officers to attend to help the Committee. That was not possible, but the Foreign Secretary conceded to the hon. Members for Wolverhampton, South-West (Mr. Budgen) and Harrow, East (Mr. Dykes) that matters of substance were involved. He said, I shall see that an answer is given."—[Official Report, 2nd February 1978; Vol. 943. c. 801.] I understand that there has been correspondence involving at least one of those hon. Members on that and another matter. On the same matter of substance I was given information by the Minister of State, but this is not on the record since it is not part of the Committee's proceedings. Is there any way in which these answers can be put on the record since this would help us, particularly in tabling amendments for the Report stage?

The Chairman

The debate on New Clause No. 8 was concluded by the fall of the guillotine at midnight last Thursday. As the hon. Member for Newham, South (Mr. Spearing) knows, it would be out of order to resume that debate at this stage. There is no method by which any subsequent discussion can be recorded.

Mr. Bryan Gould (Southampton, Test)

On a point of order. Mr. Murton. May I seek your guidance about Amendment No. 198, which has not been selected? It might be helpful if you could tell the Committee whether the amendment was not selected at your discretion or whether it was out of order.

The Chairman

I can help the hon. Member to the extent of saying that I did exercise the discretion which lies in my hands.

  1. Schedule 1
    1. cc1464-629
    2. SIMPLE MAJORITY SYSTEM (FOR GREAT BRITAIN) WITH S.T.V. (FOR NORTHERN IRELAND). 62,099 words, 3 divisions
  2. Clause 14
    1. c1630
    2. EXPENSES 39 words
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