Former MP for Shipley
I yield second place to no one in my admiration of the diligence of the hon. Member for Crosby (Mr. Graham Page). No subject requires the attention of a Select Committee more than that of Statutory Instruments. Tonight, however, the hon. Gentleman seems to overlook a fundamental consideration, namely, what the industry wants. This is a consideration which should weigh with the House. There...
On a point of order, further to the same matter. The problem here involves the protection of back benchers and does not involve any questioning of your personal Ruling, Mr. Speaker. How far is this to be allowed to go? If, as in the case here, the first Question was not answered at all, although I am not accusing the Prime Minister in this case, this could be a way of avoiding an answer in...
I have great respect for the Financial Secretary and I know that he is trying to help the House, but I believe that the Society will suffer. If the burden of proof is so plain and the society could not point to the fact that there is a rule to get it out of difficulty, technically whether it is pursued or not begs the question and according to the letter the proportion which the society gets...
The House cannot trust the validity of the right hon. Gentleman's argument. He has been in this House for a long time, and so haw I. He knows that Treasury interpretations mean absolutely nothing. They do not impress me in the slightest. I have heard many in my time which did not mean a thing. The right hon. Gentleman has responsibility for the Board of Customs and Excise. It cannot interpret...
No, I will continue what I wish to say. The right hon. Gentleman cannot expect the House to accept that this argument will put at rest the minds of societies in the future. He has done nothing to assure the House in consequence.
The Leader of the House has said that in the circumstances the Clauses and Schedules of the Finance Bill, limited though they be, to be discussed on the Floor of the House will be available tonight. Will he be more specific? It is important that hon. Members should have copies before, at any rate, ten o'clock. Otherwise, many of us will have departed to our constituencies. At the moment,...
On a point of order. I do not think that the Leader of the House heard my question. He said that copies would be available. I asked by what time?
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I quite appreciate that you could hardly read the whole of the Bill, but the whole basis of this debate is to take place under very unsatisfactory conditions. May we be assured at the very outset hat the Chief Secretary will make absolutely clear the precise purpose and extent of the Clauses which he is subsequently to commit to a Committee of the whole...
