The Monarchy (Hansard, 4 March 1996)

§ Mr. Dennis Skinner (Bolsover)
In view of the controversy, especially over the weekend, about the monarchy, may I ask you, Madam Speaker, whether anything in our Standing Orders prevents the House from debating the future of the monarchy, and whether any Minister has approached you with a view to ensuring that such a debate takes place in the near future?

§ Madam Speaker
Nothing prevents the House from debating the monarchy. It is for the Leader of the House and the Government to make time for such a debate. At the present time, I have not heard that we are to have a statement or a debate on that matter.

§ Mr. Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford)
Given the confusion that exists as a result of the comments of a senior spokesman on the Opposition Benches, the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Davies), I wonder whether he or the right hon. Member for Sedgefield (Mr. Blair) has come forward to request time to make a personal statement about the confusion about Labour party policy on this matter.

§ Madam Speaker
No. What happens outside the House is not my concern, thank goodness.

§ Mr. Jeremy Corbyn (Islington, North)
On a point of order, Madam Speaker.

§ Madam Speaker
There can be no further points of order on that.

§ Mr. Corbyn
In view of the comment that you have just made about a debate on the future of the monarchy, can I take it that you would accept an application for a private Member's debate on the relationship of the monarchy just as much as a motion from the Leader of the House? In other words, could any hon. Member propose such a motion to discuss the future of the monarchy in this country?

§ Madam Speaker
There are no private Members' motions days left, so I could not accept such an application—I was quite correct in my answer to the hon. Member for Bolsover.

§ Mr. Edward Leigh (Gainsborough and Horncastle)
On a point of order, Madam Speaker. A number of Labour Members who are very concerned about this and clearly oppose the monarchy are demanding a debate. I feel that you may want to give in to the request for a debate, so that we can sort out exactly what is happening in the Labour party. The country wants to know. Officially, the Labour party is in favour of the monarchy, but clearly some Labour Members are against it.

§ Madam Speaker
The hon. Gentleman is well aware that the Speaker of the House does not determine the time that is given to debates. It is for the Government to do that, or for the Opposition on their Supply days. We have heard all the exchanges across the Floor of the House on this matter. We shall now proceed with the debate on the economy.