§ Mr. Dennis Skinner (Bolsover)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.
§ Mr. SpeakerYes, Mr. Skinner.
§ Mr. SkinnerGod knows, Mr. Speaker, you have a difficult job having to select hon. Members to speak. I noticed on Tuesday during the debate on the Loyal Address that you called the Prime Minister and that later that night you called the hon. Member for Clwyd, North-West (Sir A. Meyer). You must have shown a degree of perception—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I know that the hon. Gentleman—
§ Mr. SkinnerThis is trying to be helpful.
§ Mr. SpeakerI know that the hon. Gentleman always tries to be helpful to the Chair, but will he come to the point of order for me?
§ Mr. SkinnerWhat is worrying some hon. Members is whether you will maintain that fair balance. When the Prime Minister is called, now that there is to be a contest, will you ensure that the stalking horse is called on every occasion in order to get a proper balance? We are seeking equality, that is all.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Gentleman has also been chairman of an assembly that has its problems—like mine —and I am sure that if I emulate his example I shall be on the right lines. I shall continue to keep a fair balance.
§ Mr. Edward Leigh (Gainsborough and Horncastle)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. To assist you in this matter, because I know that you want to ensure a fair balance, will you please ensure that the amendment standing in the name of the right hon. Member for Chesterfield (Mr. Benn) is called today? We want a fair balance.
§ Mr. SpeakerAs the House knows, I do not have to give my reasons for these things.
§ Mr. David Winnick (Walsall, North)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Is it a proper point of order?
§ Mr. WinnickYes. The Minister of State, Department of Energy—the right hon. Member for City of Chester (Mr. Morrison)—is reported in today's newspapers "as advising all Tory constituency chairmen"—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. What hon. Members say outside the House is not a matter for me.
§ Mr. Winnickrose—
§ Mr. SpeakerNo, it is not a point of order. I shall take Mr. Field, because I think that his may be a point of order.
§ Mr. Barry Field (Isle of Wight)May I continue with the definition in the Oxford English Dictionary of the word "concur"? There is an illustration of its use, which says:
They can never accord but are ever snarling and concurring as dogs together by the ears among themselves.That exactly illustrates the message from the other place. In the terms of Norman French, the word "concur" cannot be allowed to stay in the message from the other place, and we should not have received it this afternoon. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, it does not mean that we are in sympathy with the other place.
§ Mr. SpeakerI shall study carefully what was in the message. I have not had an opportunity to consider the derivation of the word "concur", but as soon as I leave the Chair I shall do so.
§ Mr. D. N. Campbell-Savours (Workington)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I did give you notice of it. You will remember that, earlier this year, I asked you about the position of Privy Councillors and their right to be called in debates in the House. We are elected equal, yet when we have been elected we find that certain Members have special privileges in so far as they can be called early in debates. Will you reconsider that practice, which I understand has been the practice of successive Speakers? Many hon. Members believe that it is quite unfair, and while we appreciate that you try to spread Privy 246 Councillors among the general membership of the House we believe that they should not take precedence in the future.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Gentleman does not know everything that goes on in my office. If he were to see some of the sad letters written to me by Privy Councillors regretting that they have not been called he would realise that they do not all think that they are getting their due precedence.