§ Mr. SpeakerI have to inform the House that I have received a letter dated 16 June 1987 from the Clerk of Petty sessions, in Enniskillen, in the following terms:
At Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Monday 15 June 1987, Mr. Kenneth Maginnis MP appeared in answer to a Summons charging him with failing to tax his car.The letter goes on to set out the offence in detail and concludes as follows:A warrant of commitment was issued forthwith committing him to prison for a period of 7 days. I understand Mr. Maginnis was lodged in prison later on the same day.I shall cause the text of the letter to be printed in the Official Report.37 Following is the text:
At Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Monday 15 June 1987, Mr. Kenneth Maginnis MP appeared in answer to a Summons charging him with failing to tax his car. Details of the offence are as follows:—Whereas a complaint has been made before me that on the 10th day of January 1987 on the public road at Anne Street, Enniskillen in the said District and County Court Division, he did use a mechanically propelled vehicle, registration mark IUI 7516 for which a licence under the Vehicles (Excise) Act (NI) 1972 was not in force, Contrary to Section 8(1) of the said Act, whereby he is on conviction liable to a fine not exceeding the greater of the following, namely £400 or five times the amount of duty chargeable in respect of the said vehicle.AND WHEREAS he is further liable under Section 9(1) of the said Act to pay an amount equivalent to all arrears of duty owed by you and calculated as amounting to £25.00 from the 1st day of November 1986 to the 31st day of January 1987.Mr. Maginnis indicated to the Court that he did not require time to pay.A warrant of commitment was issued forthwith committing him to prison for a period of 7 days.I understand Mr. Maginnis was lodged in prison later on the same day.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomas (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I hope that this is an appropriate opportunity to raise with you the way in which you intend to select amendments for the Queen's Speech debate, in particular the selection of amendments from minority parties to provide an opportunity for a Division on the major issue facing the House, which is whether the Government have a mandate from the people of Scotland and Wales for their policies.
§ Mr. SpeakerSo far, I have received no amendments in respect of the debate on the Queen's Speech. The matter that the hon. Gentleman raises is therefore academic at present, but I shall, of course, consider amendments very carefully at the appropriate time.
§ Mrs. Margaret Ewing (Moray)Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. In the selection of amendments, will due consideration be given to amendments to be submitted to the Table Office this afternoon by my colleagues in Plaid Cymru and myself in view of the fact that they raise this issue and enable Members from Scotland and Wales to show their dissatisfaction with the results of the election and with the Government's policies?
§ Mr. SpeakerIt is good to see the hon. Lady back with us. She will know from the past that all amendments are very carefully considered.