§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ Second Reading deferred till Friday 30 March.
§ Mr. Deputy SpeakerWe now come to motion No. 8——
§ Mr. Dennis Skinner (Bolsover)On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker——
§ Mr. Deputy SpeakerI shall take it in a moment.
§ Mr. SkinnerIt is about motion No. 8.
§ Mr. Deputy SpeakerVery well, I shall take it now.
§ Mr. SkinnerYou will notice Mr. Deputy Speaker that the two business of the House motions deal with the poll tax and various regulations. One relates to business to be considered on Monday and the other to several motions for Thursday. You will also notice, Mr. Deputy Speaker, that the last few lines of the second motion state that any member of the Government may move one of the motions.
I have been considering this matter, together with Standing Orders Nos. 14 and 15, relating to exempted business and negative procedure. In view of what is taking place politically, I think that it would make a great deal of sense for the Prime Minister to come to the House to defend the poll tax regulations and the poll tax generally on either Monday or Thursday. She is allowed to do so under this procedure. If she is not prepared to defend the poll tax, she should come here, pack up the poll tax and pack herself up with it.
§ Mr. Deputy SpeakerI am sure that the Prime Minister will take note of what the hon. Gentleman has said.