§ `.The provisions of this Act which extend only to Scotland shall come into force on such day as the Secretary of State may by order appoint; and different days may be so appointed for different provisions or for different purposes.'—[Mr. Lang.]
§ Brought up, read the First and Second time, and added to the Bill.
§ Mr. Brian Wilson (Cunninghame, North)On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. I would not gladly miss any opportunity to dance another little jig on the deck of the Government's coffin ship, otherwise known as the poll tax Bill. I was very surprised to learn on returning to the Chamber that the hon. Member for Bournemouth, West (Mr. Butterfill) had cast aspersions on me by saying that I was not present in the Chamber during the debate. The only reason that I was not in the Chamber is that I was attending——
§ Mr. Nicholas Soames (Crawley)That is not a point of order.
§ Madam Deputy Speaker (Miss Betty Boothroyd)Order. It is for the Chair to determine points of order. That is not a point of order. Attendance in the Chamber has nothing whatever to do with the Chair.
§ Mr. WilsonFurther to my point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. Is it in order to ask the hon. Member for Bournemouth, West to withdraw his remarks?
§ Madam Deputy SpeakerThat is not in order. As I have said, the attendance of hon. Members in the Chamber or anywhere else in this place has nothing whatever to do with the Chair.
§ Mr. John McFall (Dumbarton)On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. I find myself in the same position as my hon. Friend the Member for Cunninghame. North (Mr. Wilson) in that I would like to be able to correct gratuitous remarks that were made in ignorance.
§ Madam Deputy SpeakerOrder. I have already made it clear that this matter has nothing whatever to do with the Chair.
§ Mr. ButterfillOn a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker.
§ Madam Deputy SpeakerIs it a genuine point of order?
§ Mr. ButterfillIt is that, further to the points of order that have been made, may I tell the House that I did not identify either of the hon. Gentlemen who have made the points of order.
§ Madam Deputy SpeakerThat has cleared the matter up nicely. I thank the hon. Gentleman very much.
§ Mrs. FyfeOn a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. The hon. Member for Bournemouth, West (Mr. Butterfill) clearly said that he regretted the absence during the debate of the other Scottish Members who served on the Standing Committee. Those Members were my hon. Friends the Members for Dumbarton (Mr. McFall) and for Cunninghame, North (Mr. Wilson).
§ Madam Deputy SpeakerOrder. Tomorrow's Hansard will let us all know exactly what was said.