Mr Fred Blackburn: I understand that the following Amendrent is not to be moved—No. 120, in page 5, line 38, after "resale" to insert "any dealer in those goods". The Chairman of Ways and Means has said that in that case the debate can take place on Amendment No. 121 in the name of the right hon. Member for Battersea, North (Mr. Jay).
Mr Fred Blackburn: Yes.
Mr Fred Blackburn: I was not in the Chair last night and therefore did not hear it. I understand that the matter has been referred to again today. Consequently, I have felt that I was prohibited from stopping the hon. Member for Ebbw Vale (Mr. M. Foot) as other hon. Members had referred to the subject. I felt that I could not call the hon. Member to order.
Mr Fred Blackburn: Order. Perhaps the hon. Member had better not stress that he has made the speech before.
Mr Fred Blackburn: I think that with that Amendment we can consider Amendment No. 186, in page 5, line 20, at the end to insert: or(d) there should be a reduction in the volume or not earnings of the export business in goods of that class which would be substantial either in relation to the whole export business of the United Kingdom or in relation to the whole business (including export business) in goods of...
Mr Fred Blackburn: Order. I think than if there is less noise in the Chamber it will be much easier for us all to hear what the hon. Member is saying.
Mr Fred Blackburn: I hope that it also fits the Clause.
Mr Fred Blackburn: These philosophical reflections are all very well, but they are hardly concerned with the Clause. I hope that the hon. Member will deal with the Clause during his speech.
Mr Fred Blackburn: That may be what the hon. Member thinks, but it is not according to the rules of the Committee.
Mr Fred Blackburn: There are 24 other Amendments which may be discussed with this Amendment. There is a list in the "No" Lobby which hon. Members have probably seen. If any hon. Member wishes me to read out the list, I will do so.
Mr Fred Blackburn: As the hon. Gentleman says that the salary of the Comptroller and Auditor General is approximate to that of heads of Government Departments, could not the Committee pass a Resolution so that whenever there is an increase in the salaries of those heads of Departments, the salary of he Comptroller and Auditor General would automatically be increased by the same figure? I agree that it is...
Mr Fred Blackburn: I suggested that because the Minister said that it had been the practice for the salary of the Comptroller and Auditor-General to approximate to that of the head of a Department. If that is the case, and if the practice is likely to continue, I think that it would be a good idea to pass a Resolution to that effect.
Mr Fred Blackburn: How can the Minister control this? If British Railways are allowed to close uneconomic services, how can the Minister say that bus services are not allowed to do the same?
Mr Fred Blackburn: The hon. and learned Member for Darwen (Mr. Fletcher-Cooke) has made a constituency speech and I shall do exactly the same thing. I shall do so unashamedly, and if it is counted as parish pump politics I am quite willing to be called a parish pump addict. The Minister must know that many small local authorities take great pride in their library service. I speak on behalf of three non-county...
Mr Fred Blackburn: Or in any form.
Mr Fred Blackburn: Making skilled men into errand boys.
Mr Fred Blackburn: Does the right hon. Gentleman think that another inquiry is necessary? Is he aware that many of us believe that he himself knows a good many of the answers, and that there are 629 hon. Members prepared to tell him any that he does not know?
Mr Fred Blackburn: Will the Postmaster-General add to the 75,000 and make it 75,001 by putting one on the Wood head Road near where the former hon. Member for Rotherham was killed?
Mr Fred Blackburn: If the right hon. Gentleman gives further consideration to this problem, will he remember that this is a place of work and not a place of entertainment?
Mr Fred Blackburn: Further to that point of order. Am I right in thinking, Mr. Deputy-Speaker, that it would be in order on the Committee stage but not on the Report stage?