FINANCE BILL (Hansard, 11 May 1990)

§ Mr. Bermingham
On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. When item No. 17 was raised—the Hare Coursing (Abolition) Bill in the name of my hon. Friend the Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen) there was a pause during which there was no objection by the Government Whips. You then asked for the date of the Second Reading. My hon. Friend rose to say, "Now". Then the voice of the hon. Member for Dulwich (Mr. Bowden) was heard, perky as ever. That was accepted as an objection. For the past six or seven years, the standard procedure in the House has been that, once the matter is raised, the Question is put. [Interruption.] I hear the pathetic voice of Hallam. It does not sound well.
The procedure has always been that, once the Second Reading date has been asked for, the matter is before the House. The moment for objection is passed. Why should the rules change today?

The Deputy Speaker
Order. I have got the hon. Gentleman's point. The procedure is possibly slightly confusing. I assure him and the House that an objection can be made at any time during the proceedings. It does not have to be made as soon as the title of the Bill is read out. An objection was clearly made, so the correct procedures of the House have been followed.

§ Mr. Bermingham
Further to that point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Perhaps we could have it stated a little more definitively. Otherwise we shall have the ridiculous position that the Chair can cast round the House for an objection, depending on the will of the Chair—of course, this is not personal. We could have a delay of up to five minutes while we wait for the learned voice of objection to a perfectly reasonable and rational Bill. Hare coursing is an obscenity which the hon. Member for Dulwich so pathetically enjoys.

Mr. Deputy Speaker
Order. Objections can be raised at any time. The moment an objection is raised it stops any further proceedings on the Bill. That procedure has existed for many years and we are well accustomed to it.