§ Madam SpeakerI am now able to reply to the point raised with me on Thursday last by the right hon. Member for Chesterfield (Mr. Benn), who asserted that the contents of the Gracious Speech were available in advance to some Members outside the Government and not to others. He sought my advice on whether what he called a private coalition across the Floor, which allowed some of those party to it to continue to enjoy the full rights of Opposition, had been established.
On the first point, it seems to me that, until it has been delivered, the text of the Gracious Speech is not a document of which the House has cognisance. How far it may be made available at that stage and on what basis is not therefore a matter for me. It is a matter for the Government.
As for the second issue, my responsibility is to guide the House in enforcing its Standing Orders. I know nothing of private coalitions. I can only draw the attention of the right hon. Member for Chesterfield to Standing Order No. 14(3), which, for the purposes of allotting Opposition Days, defines an Opposition party as one
not represented in Her Majesty's Government".In this connection, I draw the right hon. Gentleman's attention also to the fact that, on the Order Paper, there is an amendment to the Address standing in the name of the leader of the Liberal Democratic party.
§ Mr. Tony Benn (Chesterfield)Thank you, Madam Speaker, for your statement. I ask you to keep an eye on this issue. You will recall that, when the so-called Lib-Lab pact was arrived at in 1977, the then Prime Minister made a statement, there was a debate that day and a vote. What I believe is the creeping coalition has never been put to the electorate. It has never been put to the House, never debated and never voted upon. However the Standing Orders may have been drafted, what I believe to be the creeping coalition has subtly changed relationships in the Chamber. I ask you, Madam Speaker, to keep an eye on this and perhaps to insist that Ministers make statements to Parliament on matters that concern the House itself.
§ Madam SpeakerI have not been a Member of Parliament for as long as the right hon. Gentleman, but I remember the occasion to which he refers. I assure him that I am interested, and that I shall keep my eyes and my ears open in respect of such matters.