Business of the House

– in the House of Commons at 3:30 pm on 28 July 1980.

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Motion made, and Question proposed,

That, at this day's sitting, if proceedings on the Motions relating to Social Security are not disposed of before Ten o'clock, Mr. Speaker shall at that hour, notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order No. 3 (Exempted business) and Standing Order No. 4 (Prayers against Statutory Instruments, &c. (negative procedure)), put any Question already proposed from the Chair, any outstanding Motions may thereupon be made and the Questions there on shall be put forthwith.—[Mr. Cope.]

Photo of Peter Bottomley Peter Bottomley , Greenwich Woolwich West

It would not be appropriate for me to discuss one of the orders, but a debate on child benefit that would, without this motion, take only one and a half hours would be inadequate. I hope that we shall be able to discuss child benefit, among other things, until 10 o'clock. I also hope that we shall be able to debate issues such as child benefit, which affects half the population of the country—13 million parents and their 13 million children—for longer than an hour and a half. It would be preferable to have a day's debate on the subject. In addition, any debate should take place in advance of any Government decision on future levels of child benefit.

Question put and agreed to.

Photo of Mr George Thomas Mr George Thomas , Cardiff West

In view of the terms of the business motion to which the House has just agreed I am willing to allow the substance of all 11 motions to be discussed during the debate on the first motion.