TEN-MINUTE BILLS (Hansard, 19 July 1978)

§ Mr. Madden
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. At a time when we are concerned about secrets, I wonder whether you can cast any light on the phantom Ten-Minute Bill promoted by the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Gow) which should have appeared on the Order Paper today but I gather was removed from it last night. That Bill was originally associated with employment protection, but it underwent a curious sea change and emerged as a Bill to promote electoral reform in Northern Ireland.
I do not want to speculate on the political motives or other reasons of the hon. Member for Eastbourne, who is 551 an enthusiastic Ten-Minute Ruler, if that is the correct term, in withdrawing the Bill. However, I am concerned about the opportunity that has been lost to another Member to promote a Bill as a result of the hon. Member for Eastbourne withdrawing his Bill. Therefore, I wonder whether you, Mr. Speaker, would refer the arrangements for withdrawing notice of a Bill to the Procedure Committee so that longer advance notice of a withdrawn Bill may be given, thereby enabling other Members to take advantage of time that is otherwise lost.

§ Mr. Rooker
Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. I support what my hon. Friend submitted to you. It is important that hon. Members are not deprived of valuable parliamentary time, which belongs solely to Back Benchers, to promote particular causes. I know that the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Cow) was keen, because he turned up at the Public Bill Office at 6 o'clock in the morning and found that I had already been there for nine hours. I also know that, like me, my hon. Friend the Member for West Stirlingshire (Mr. Canavan) would have liked the opportunity to introduce a Ten-Minute Bill on the price-fixing arrangements in British industry. He mentioned to me that he would have liked to do what I did yesterday. He could have done it today had he had warning yesterday of what was intended by the hon. Member for Eastbourne. My hon. Friend has been deprived of this legitimate parliamentary procedure that is open only to Back Benchers.

§ Mr. Flannery
Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker.

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I shall certainly call the hon. Gentleman. However, I point out that valuable time on the timetable motion is being consumed.

§ Mr. Flannery
Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. Can you enlighten us about the techniques for withdrawing Private Members' Bills? Is it possible for a political party to exert pressure on an hon. Member to withdraw a Bill at the last minute? How does this situation come about?

§ Mr. Speaker
It is in order for an hon. Member not to move a Bill of which he has given notice he might seek the opportunity to introduce. What the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Gow) has done is not out of order.