HC Deb 25 January 1978 vol 942 cc1418-9

[12TH ALLOTTED DAY]

Considered in Committee [Progress, 24th January].

[Sir MYER GALPERN in the Chair]

4.51 p.m.

Mr. Norman Buchan (Renfrewshire, West)

On a point of order, Sir Myer—

The First Deputy Chairman

Order. In the light of the decision that has just been taken by the House, I inform the Committee that the Chairman of Ways and Means' provisional list of amendments posted today stands. Of course, the lines marking 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. should be disregarded. Mr. Buchan, to raise a point of order.

Mr. Buchan

In view of the decision that has been taken, Sir Myer, is it in order for me to seek your guidance on some of the later amendments? Those later amendments include one matter which, for many hon. Members, is a make or break issue. May I, through you, Sir Myer, ask the Lord President whether further time will be given so that the whole question of the referendum may be discussed, if not now, on an extra day on Report?

The First Deputy Chairman

We are on the Committee stage now. That is not a matter for the Chair.

Mr. George Cunningham (Islington, South and Finsbury)

Further to that point of order, Sir Myer. I think that the Committee should realise that my hon. Friend the Member for Renfrewshire, West (Mr. Buchan) is the Member whose amendments lose out as a result of the decision taken by the House. Those of us who are following this matter closely are aware of that problem. There is a perfectly easy way by which it can be dealt with. The Government were prepared to use a little time from the new clauses time next week to benefit my hon. Friend's amendments and also the time after 10 o'clock tonight. It would still be possible to do that without prejudice to the arrangements made for today. I should like to put that matter on record.

The First Deputy Chairman

The right hon. Member for Cambridgeshire (Mr. Pym) said that we had lost a considerable amount of time already. The guillotine falls tonight at 11 o'clock as a result of what has been decided by the House. I hope that we may now proceed to discuss the Bill.

  1. Clause 81
      2. cc1419-23
    1. COMMENCEMENT 1,727 words
  2. Clause 82
      3. cc1424-553
    1. REFERENDUM 49,317 words, 5 divisions
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