§ Mr. Tony Benn presented a Bill to establish a democratic, federal and secular Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Wales dedicated to the welfare of all its citizens; to establish fundamental human rights within that Commonwealth; to lower the voting age to 16 years and to make other provision with respect to elections, including equal representation for women; to prescribe a constitutional oath; to establish a Commonwealth Parliament consisting of the House of Commons and the House of the People and to make provision for the term of a Parliament and for legislative and other procedure; to establish the office of President, and a Council of State, and to prescribe the powers of each; to provide for the formation of governments; to amend the law relating to official information, the armed forces and the security services; to make fresh provision for the participation of Britain in the United Nations Organisation and the European Communities; to make the basing of foreign forces in Britain dependent upon the approval of the House of Commons; to make new provision with respect to the judicial system and to establish a National Legal Service; to set up national Parliaments for England, Scotland and Wales; to amend the law relating to local government, the district auditor and the accountability of police forces; to end the constitutional status of the Crown and to make certain consequential provision; to abolish the House of Lords and the Privy Council, to end the recognition in law of personal titles, and to provide for the acknowledgement of service to the community; to disestablish the Church of England, abolish the offence of blasphemy, and to provide for equality under the law for all religions and beliefs; to end British jurisdiction in Northern Ireland; to provide for a Constitution and for constitutional amendment; and to make transitional and related provision: And the same was read the First time; and ordered to be read a Second time on Friday 28 June and to be printed. [Bill 161.]
§ Mr. SpeakerNow, what is the point of order?
§ Mr. SpeakerI called during the statement the hon. Member and all the hon. Members who now wish to raise points of order . However, I also drew attention to the fact that there was great pressure on the subsequent debate.
§ Mr. SpeakerWell, it takes time from the hon. Member's colleagues.
§ Mr. CryerIt is a very important subject, Mr. Speaker. Have you received any application for a statement about the Government either activating existing legislation for the control of dangerous dogs or introducting new legislation? There has been a serious accident in Bradford in which a little six-year-old girl has been savagely attacked by a pit bull terrier. It is a subject on which I hoped the Government would seek your permission to make a statement.
§ Mr. SpeakerI have not had any intimation that the Government wish to make a statement. It seems to me that it is a matter that should be raised in the House.
§ Mr. Dalyellrose—
§ Mr. WallaceOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. This may be the point of order that the hon. Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell) wishes to raise. A White Paper has been issued today on further education in Scotland. The hon. Member for Linlithgow asked questions which the Secretary of State for Employment was clearly unable to answer because they were on Scottish matters. We are constantly reminded by the Conservative party, and indeed by you, Mr. Speaker, that this is a Parliament of the United Kingdom. Have you had any explanation of why there was not a separate statement about Scottish matters?
§ Mr. SpeakerI have not had any intimation, but I am sure that that will have been heard by those responsible.
§ Mr. Dalyellrose—
§ Mr. SpeakerOn the same matter?
§ Mr. DalyellIt is the same matter. The Secretary of State for Employment correctly said that the questions that I asked had to be answered by the Secretary of State for Scotland. This is a vital matter, which particularly affects the lives of many English people as well as Scots in the Scottish universities. It especially affects the great science departments of the universities of Edinburgh and of Glasgow. In those circumstances—if the Leader of the House was present, my request would be within his hearing—can we have a statement tomorrow from the Secretary of State for Scotland?
§ Mr. SpeakerThe Whip is on the Bench. I gave the hon. Member an opportunity to put his question on the statement. I could not have done more than that today.
§ Mrs. Alice Mahon (Halifax)Further to the point of order made by my hon. Friend the Member for Bradford, South (Mr. Cryer), Mr. Speaker. Could you advise Back-Bench Members how we can get the Home Secretary to come to the House and make a statement on the outrageous savaging of the little girl in Bradford? Public opinion and, it would seem, the local press is way ahead of the Home Secretary. The Yorkshire Post mounted a 667 campaign, which I and many of my colleagues support, hours before the latest outrage. We feel that the public deserve some protection from these dangerous animals.
§ Mr. SpeakerI say again that I had anticipated that there might be a bid to have this matter raised. It was not raised with me earlier today, but I am sure that the subject should be debated in the House at some time. It might be a useful subject for an Adjournment debate.