HC Deb 27 October 1982 vol 29 c1041 3.30 pm
The Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. John Biffen)

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I should like to refer to the matter of the Education (Mandatory Awards) Regulations 1982 which was raised with you yesterday by the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith) and other right hon. and hon. Members. I undertook to look at the points that had been raised.

No undertaking was given that this subject should be debated on the Floor of the House. However, on 22 July I undertook to look into the possibility of taking the matter upstairs in the overspill".—[Official Report, 22 July 1982; Vol. 28, c. 535.] That was in response to a request from the right hon. Member for Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles (Mr. Steel) and that undertaking has been met.

Nevertheless, Mr. Speaker, I understand the concern of right hon. and hon. Members. I also take account of the representation of the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition evident in the motion on today's Order Paper that the matter should come to the Floor of the House. I am, therefore, agreeable to further discussion on this matter taking place through the usual channels.

Mr. Michael Foot (Ebbw Vale)

Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. I think that the Leader of the House was making a statement rather than raising a point of order, but I thank him anyway for it. Naturally, we are glad that discussion is to take place through the usual channels. However, we believe and understand that that discussion must result in a debate. The House is entitled to a debate on such an extremely important subject.

Mr. A. J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed)

Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Leader of the House for considering the matter, and I hope that the discussions will lead to a full debate on the Floor of the House on this controversial subject.

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