§ Mr. Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. At your convenience, could you reflect and rule on the entirely new practice of hon. Members speaking against a ten-minute Bill and then not pressing the matter to a vote? As I understand it, it is a new practice and an abuse of House of Commons procedure.
§ Madam SpeakerIt is not at all new—it is well established, and is included in "Erskine May". Any Member seeking to oppose such a Bill is free to do so. Of course, that hon. Member must raise his or her voice in opposition, but the matter does not necessarily need to proceed to a Division. That is for me to determine, depending on the voices that I hear.
§ Mrs. Edwina Currie (Derbyshire, South)Further to that point of order, Madam Speaker.
§ Madam SpeakerOrder. There can be no further point of order on that matter. I have made a ruling. The matter is covered in "Erskine May". It is there for hon. Members to look at.
§ Mrs. CurrieOn a different point of order, Madam Speaker. It might be worth reminding hon. Members, especially women Members, that, if they want to introduce Bills that need the support of women on both sides of the House, they might invite some to become sponsors.
§ Madam SpeakerThat is hardly a point of order for me.
§ Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich)Further to that point of order, Madam Speaker.
§ Madam SpeakerI will have no argument about whether women Members are invited to sponsor Bills. I take it that the hon. Lady's point of order does not relate to that.
§ Mrs. DunwoodyFurther to that point of order, Madam Speaker. When a 10-minute Bill is to be opposed, is it not the convention for the hon. Member opposing it to give notice to the hon. Member presenting it? Is that not an elementary courtesy?
§ Madam SpeakerNo, that is not the case. The hon. Member opposing the Bill must listen to what is said by the promoter before he or she can decide whether to oppose it.