Licensing (Amendment) Bill – in the House of Commons at 1:45 pm on 1 May 1987.
Mr. Deputy Speaker:
Order. The hon. Member should allow me to put the Question.
The Question is, That the Bill be now read a Second time.
Mr Hugh Dykes
, Harrow East
On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. That objection was not made in time. Therefore, the Second Reading takes place now.
Mr. Deputy Speaker:
Order. The hon. Member has not moved the motion. Second Reading what day?
Mr Hugh Dykes
, Harrow East
Further to that point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I think I am right in assuming that you were plainly waiting for an objection, but it was not uttered.
Mr. Deputy Speaker:
Order. I was plainly waiting for the hon. Member to move the motion, which he failed to do. He has now missed his chance.
Mr Hugh Dykes
, Harrow East
On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker.
Mr. Deputy Speaker:
I think that I have dealt with the hon. Member's point of order. He quite clearly missed the boat.
Mr Hugh Dykes
, Harrow East
On another point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Of course that might be assumed, but why, then, was the objection uttered after your second pronouncement?
Mr. Deputy Speaker:
If I recall, the objection was taken before I proposed the Question. That is within my clear recollection. Second Reading what day?
Mr Hugh Dykes
, Harrow East
Under protest, Friday 15 May.
As a bill passes through Parliament, MPs and peers may suggest amendments - or changes - which they believe will improve the quality of the legislation.
Many hundreds of amendments are proposed by members to major bills as they pass through committee stage, report stage and third reading in both Houses of Parliament.
In the end only a handful of amendments will be incorporated into any bill.
The Speaker - or the chairman in the case of standing committees - has the power to select which amendments should be debated.
The Second Reading is the most important stage for a Bill. It is when the main purpose of a Bill is discussed and voted on. If the Bill passes it moves on to the Committee Stage. Further information can be obtained from factsheet L1 on the UK Parliament website.
The Deputy speaker is in charge of proceedings of the House of Commons in the absence of the Speaker.
The deputy speaker's formal title is Chairman of Ways and Means, one of whose functions is to preside over the House of Commons when it is in a Committee of the Whole House.
The deputy speaker also presides over the Budget.
The Second Reading is the most important stage for a Bill. It is when the main purpose of a Bill is discussed and voted on. If the Bill passes it moves on to the Committee Stage. Further information can be obtained from factsheet L1 on the UK Parliament website.
