HC Deb 14 July 1981 vol 8 cc988-9

Mr. John Home Robertson accordingly presented a Bill to bring. in a Bill to improve the security of tenure of farmworkers and others who occupy agricultural tied houses in Scotland; and for connected purposes: And the same was read the First time; and ordered to be read a Second time upon Friday 24 July and to be printed [Bill 186].

Mr. Hugh D. Brown (Glasgow, Provan)

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. For the benefit of those of us who were in the Lobby, will you give some guidance on the question why the Division did not take place? If it was for the normal reason, will you make it clear that that is an abuse of the House?

Mr. Speaker

I do not think that there was an abuse of the House. The Tellers were not experienced and there was no hon. Member in the Chamber to shout "No". I put the Question twice, but I received only "Ayes". What happened could happen to any hon. Member who is not accustomed to being a Teller.

Mr. Donald Dewar (Glasgow, Garscadden)

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. During a speech which we had understood was an intimation of opposition to the Bill, the hon. Member for Banff (Mr. Myles) made certain remarks about my hon. Friend the Member for Berwick and East Lothian (Mr. Home Robertson). As an uninvolved outsider, I took those remarks to contain the clear implication that my hon. Friend had been evicting people from his land and was therefore guilty of a remarkable level of hypocrisy. Is it possible, Mr. Speaker, to ask you to have that insinuation substantiated or to request the hon. Gentleman to withdraw his remarks.

Mr. Speaker

That is not my business. If the hon. Member for Banff (Mr. Myles) made such a statement, it went unchallenged.

Mr. Myles

Further to the point of order raised by the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan (Mr. Brown), Mr. Speaker. It is well known that I am very deaf. I was behind the Chair and did not hear you. Therefore, I could not use my loud voice to shout "No". It was entirely my fault that I missed the Question being put. In no way were you, Mr. Speaker, to blame.

Further to the point of order raised by the hon. Member for Glasgow, Garscadden (Mr. Dewar), I have spoken to the hon. Member for Berwick and East Lothian (Mr. Home Robertson) about my saying that he evicted people. I understand that when the hon. Gentleman took over his farm on the border there were tenant farmers on the land. Gradually they have moved out and he has taken over the land himself. If I was misled, I withdraw that allegation.