§ Mr. Deputy Speaker (Mr. Ernest Armstrong)The next item on the Order Paper is the draft Supplementary Benefit (Requirements and Resources) Miscellaneous and Temporary Provisions Regulations 1985.
§ Mr. Hugh Brown (Glasgow, Provan)On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. As these regulations are not being moved by the Government, is it in order for me to debate the Question that they be not moved?
§ Mr. Deputy SpeakerIf the instrument is not moved, it is not before the House.
§ Mr. BrownWhy, then, does the Question need to be put? I understood that you called the Minister to move the regulations, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Why, then, is there no Question before the House?
§ Mr. Deputy SpeakerThe regulations were not moved, so they are not before the House. It is not a matter for me to decide. I can give the Minister the opportunity to move the instrument, but if he decides not to move it, then it is not before the House and, therefore, it cannot be debated.
§ Mr. BrownI do not want to be difficult, Mr. Deputy Speaker, and I have been long enough in the House to know that there is never an easy answer to some of the questions that hon. Members put to the Chair. However, I find it surprising that the Government should have given no explanation about why they are not moving the regulations.
§ Mr. Deputy SpeakerThat is a matter for the Government, not for me. If they decide not to move an instrument, there is nothing that I can do about it.