§ Mr. SpeakerBefore I call the Prime Minister to make his statement I shall make a brief statement myself. Hon. Members will have noticed the error in today's Notice Paper, as a result of which the names of 23 hon. Members have been added to Early-Day Motion No. 446 in the name of the hon. Member for Putney (Mr. Jenkins) relating to the survival of the monarchy. The names should have been added to Early-Day Motion No. 445 relating to the export trade of live animals for slaughter or for further fattening. I apologise to all hon. Members concerned for the embarrassment that they may have suffered. A corrigendum will be published tomorrow.
§ Later—
§ Mr. BurdenI am most grateful to you, Mr. Speaker, for having put the matter right about the motions on the Order Paper. I was greatly surprised when I saw that the names of many of my hon. Friends who had signed Early-Day Motion No. 445 appeared on the Order Paper as having sponsored the motion standing in the name of the hon. Member for Putney (Mr. Jenkins), not least because I handed in all the names myself and by no stretch of the imagination, by any faulty identikit or anything else, could I be mistaken for the hon. Gentleman. I was surprised. I have no doubt that although the hon. Gentleman was surprised he was gratified when he thought that he had so many adherents from the Opposition Benches. However, my right hon. and hon. Friends were horrified when they saw their names 1334 associated with his on Early-Day Motion No. 446.
§ Mr. Hugh JenkinsFurther to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. May I accept the hon. Gentleman's apology and say that I still live in hope that enlightenment may yet dawn?
§ Mr. SpeakerIt seems as if humour is satisfied.