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Motion made and Question proposed,
That this House take note of European Community Documents Nos. 8242/85 and 6944/86 and the supplementary explanatory memorandum of 22nd April 1988 submitted by the Department of Trade and Industry on higher education diplomas; and supports the Government's intention to work for the early adoption of a Directive which reflects the United Kingdom system of professional training and regulation and facilitates freedom of movement for professions within the European Community as an essential element of a single Community market.;'[Mr. Maclean.]
§ Mr. SpeakerI should inform the House that a manuscript amendment to the motion has been tabled by the hon. Member for Newham, South (Mr. Spearing). The hon. Gentleman was fully entitled to do that. There is provision for such an amendment to be decided upon, without debate, under the Standing Order. I have given careful consideration to the amendment, but I have decided not to select it.
§ Question put and agreed to.
4.57 pm§ Mr. Nigel Spearing (Newham, South)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I am grateful for the information which you have given to the House. Can you confirm that the document was discussed in Committee only this morning and reported to the Table only an hour or so ago, thus making it difficult for any hon. Member such as myself who attended to place formally on the Order Paper an amendment which would normally have appeared tomorrow? I take it that you would feel that, although the procedure is in order, it is not only unusual but in its haste deprives hon. Members and the public from seeing what the Government are up to.
May I ask you, Mr. Speaker, to confirm that under Standing Order 102 it is possible for the motion to be separate from the motion in Committee, that it is amendable, and that in selecting amendments you will maintain the precedent set by Mr. Speaker Lloyd in 1974 in respect of amendments to Common Market motions?
§ Mr. SpeakerI accept that this is an unusual procedure. I agree with the hon. Member that normally the House should have time to consider motions that are on the Order Paper and have an opportunity to amend them when it is legitimate to do so. I cannot give reasons to the hon. Member or to the House for my non-selection today, but I will be pleased to see the hon. Member privately.
§ Mr. Ron Leighton (Newham, North-East)Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister explain the indecent haste and why he did not put the motion down for tomorrow?
May I put a point to you, Mr. Speaker? As we have seen earlier today, more and more legislation which affects our affairs is originating in the EEC. Are you convinced that the scrutiny procedures of the House are adequate? I doubt whether they are. May I ask you to consider this privately and come back to me with your view?
§ Mr. SpeakerI cannot ask the Minister to give an explanation to that because the Standing Order requires me to put the Question forthwith, as I have already done. I have every confidence in the Select Committee on European Legislation and its Chairman. What has been done today is in order.