§ Mr. Simon Hughes accordingly presented a Bill to terminate the establishment of the Church of England in England; to make provision in respect of the Temporalities thereof; and for connected purposes: And the same was read the First time; and ordered to be read a Second time upon Friday 2 July, and to be printed. [Bill 156.]
§ Sir Nicholas Fairbairn (Perth and Kinross)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. During the homily, it was suggested that the Church of Scotland was an established church. It is not; it is a presbyterian church. I am an episcopalian and I do not know what "established" means, any more than I know what that silly word, Euro-fraternalist, means, which I brought to your attention yesterday.
§ Madam SpeakerThe House has become enlightened by what the hon. and learned Gentleman has just said.
§ Dame Elaine Kellett-Bowman (Lancaster)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. A number of us clearly called "no"; we are therefore puzzled as to why there was no vote on the proposed Bill. [Interruption.]
§ Madam SpeakerOrder. The challenger did not call out "no" when I called again. I called twice. The Chair always calls twice to be absolutely clear. There are occasions when the House becomes sloppy in responding to me. This was one such occasion. When I do not hear a second cry, I must make a decision, and I have just done so.