Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 5 November 1958.
It has always been my view—and the Ruling goes back a very long time before my time—that on the Second Reading of the Bill no discussion can properly take place. The merits of the various Acts which it is proposed to continue can be discussed by Amendment in Committee. I do not for the moment see what the relevance to the position on Second Reading is of a discussion of the Motion, "That Clause 1 stand part of the Bill." No doubt the hon. Member will have an opportunity of elucidating that point. I must ask the day for Second Reading.