§
Motion made, and Questions put forthwith pursuant to Standing Order No. 101(5) (Standing Committees on Statutory Instruments, &c.),
That the draft Council Tax Benefit (General) Amendment Regulations 1993, which were laid before this House on 11th February, be approved.—[Mr. Arbuthnot.]
The House proceeded to a Division—
§ Mr. Meale(seated and covered): On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Have we had the 10 o'clock motion?
Mr. DEPUTY SPEAKERstated that he thought that the Ayes had it; and on his decision being challenged, it appeared to him that the Division was unnecessarily claimed, and he accordingly called upon the Members who supported and who challenged his decision successively to rise in their places, and he declared that the Ayes had it, thirty-five Members only who challenged his decision having stood up.
Question agreed to.
Motion made, and Question put forthwith pursuant to Standing Order No. 101(5) (Standing Committees on Statutory Instruments, &c.),
That the draft Council Tax Benefit (Permitted Total) Order 1993, which was laid before this House on 11th February, be approved.—[Mr. Arbuthnot.]The House proceeded to a Division—
§ Mr. Meale(seated and covered): On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. When you called the previous vote, I do not know whether it was because of the noise from the other side of the Chamber, but several of my colleagues and I certainly did not hear the motion on which we were voting. Therefore, it seems that many hon. Members have been through a voting procedure on at least three occasions when they did not know the order on which they were voting. I would appreciate your guidance on where we are at present and whether the previous three 'votes were in order because of the lack of a number.
§ Mr. Hugh Bayley (York)(seated and covered): On a point of order, Deputy Speaker. For the previous two votes, I heard no announcement of the numbers voting. On one vote, I noticed two hon. Members—the hon. Member for Kettering (Mr. Freeman) and the right hon. Member for Mole Valley (Mr. Baker)—voting both Aye and No. Did the Clerks count the No votes on both sides of the Chamber? You, Mr. Deputy Speaker, could clarify the matter by giving the numbers voting Aye and those voting No on the previous two motions.
Mr. Deputy SpeakerHon. Members will know that if they vote Aye and No on both sides, they are counted on both sides.
§ Mr. Connarty(seated and covered): On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. It is clear that hon. Members are now becoming disturbed by the Deputy Speaker's authority. My hon. Friend the Member for Dewsbury (Mrs. Taylor) asked whether Madam Speaker could be called to the House as we have now reached the stage when it is clear that some hon. Members believe that the procedures of the House are being manipulated—and the Clerks are overpaid—
Mr. Deputy SpeakerOrder. I ask those supporting motion No. 15 to rise in their places. Is the hon. Member for Workington (Mr. Campbell-Savours), who is walking, voting Aye? It does not matter whether he is voting in the Gangway; it applies to anywhere in the House.
Mr. DEPUTY SPEAKERstated that he thought that the Ayes had it; and on his decision being challenged, it appeared to him that the Division was unnecessarily claimed, and he accordingly called upon the Members who supported and who challenged his decision successively to rise in their places, and he declared that the Ayes had it, two Members only who challenged his decision having stood up.
Question agreed to.