Mr Roger Cooke: Would not the hon. Member agree that the action of students and all this violence we have seen on television, is nothing like what happened before the war? The police never had to deal with students armed with bicycle chains and other weapons, attacking them.
Mr Roger Cooke: For some time I have had doubts about the control exercised over supplementary benefits which are paid out. One or two cases have come to notice in my constituency in which people as well as receiving supplementary benefits have been found to have jobs on the side. My doubts were brought to a head earlier this year when a well-spoken man with an Irish brogue went to my constituency office...
Mr Roger Cooke: I am glad to have the opportunity of raising the subject of two secondary schools in my constituency in this debate, because traditionally it is a debate which provides an opportunity for the redress of grievances and my constituents feel that they have a grievance which requires redress. There are two excellent secondary schools in Twickenham, one at Whitton and one at Teddington, and both...
Mr Roger Cooke: I believe the hon. Gentleman is right in what he is saying. In the last century there was only one scientific laboratory in this country, and that was the one in the Royal Institution.
Mr Roger Cooke: I am very glad to be assured by the hon. Member for Billericay (Mr. Moonman) that we can talk about science now without shame. The country at large would have lost a lot if the reporters had been sent out of this interesting debate which has enlightened both sides of the House. As one who is not a trained scientist, I might be somewhat shy about pontificating about it, but having been...
Mr Roger Cooke: I can well believe that is so. Between the four or five research councils there must of course be some overlapping and a difficulty in deciding to which division a particular project belongs. I now come to my main point. It seems that one of the greatest troubles in the country at present is the division between those who are pro-science and those who are anti-science. There is a real...
Mr Roger Cooke: I was under the impression that a full-time member of the executive would normally be a member of the London Transport pensions scheme, although no doubt a part-time member would not be a member of the pension fund. Is it now suggested that a full-time executive member of London Transport could be a member of the Greater London scheme as well as the London Transport executive scheme? Is this...
Mr Roger Cooke: I do not know whether the hon. Gentleman has ever been to America, but there he would find very strong local radio and a very strong local Press as well.
Mr Roger Cooke: Would the hon. Gentleman ask exactly the same question about local newspapers? Do not they live on advertising? Would the hon. Gentleman take away the right of local newspapers to go on "printing money"?
Mr Roger Cooke: While accepting your Ruling, Mr. Speaker, I think that it must be put on record that the action of printers in this way is calculated—
Mr Roger Cooke: On a point or order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Is it in order for the Minister to read his speech and gabble through it?
Mr Roger Cooke: Mr. R. Gresham Cooke (Twickenham) rose—
Mr Roger Cooke: A very popular, highly respected local maternity hospital, namely the Bearsted Memorial Maternity Hospital at Hampton Court, has been murdered by the action of the North-East Metropolitan Hospital Board and the Department of Health and Social Security. This small but well-placed maternity hospital of some 32 beds serves not only my own constituency of Twickenham, which includes Teddington,...
Mr Roger Cooke: I accepted that because the staff had already gone and nothing could be done.
Mr Roger Cooke: The hon. Member for Harrow, East (Mr. Roebuck) has spoken with some disdain of the marina having been sponsored by a private enterprise company. He will, however, find that all the great ports such as Southampton and Liverpool, were developed by private enterprise companies in the first place. The marina was obviously not something which would be put up by a public authority. I shall not...
Mr Roger Cooke: I have not gone into that. Hon. Members representing Brighton and district will no doubt tell us something about it. I am talking about it merely as somebody interested in going down to the sea in ships, or in yachts. If there is to be a little harbour for boats and yachts, the yachtsmen obviously have to get there. When I read about it, it seemed to me that it was natural that there would...
Mr Roger Cooke: On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I have been in the Lobby, but I have not yet been counted and the Tellers seem to have disappeared.
Mr Roger Cooke: I do not know whether the hon. and learned Gentleman has been here very much today, but the House was crowded this morning and some very important speeches were made about the constitutional position. Obviously, this is a very important Bill. This Amendment, of course, is very narrow and hon. Members have gone to dinner. No doubt they are coming back for the more important Amendments to follow.
Mr Roger Cooke: I beg to move Amendment No. 182, in page 2, line 44, at end insert: 'and of the representatives of science, technology, the arts, industry, agriculture, commerce, finance and the professions, elected in accordance with section (Election of representatives of science and technology, industry, commerce and the professions) of this Act.'
Mr Roger Cooke: The number of the Amendment has been altered—originally it was No. 128—because it had in it "the 20 representative peers". That has now been taken out and the number thereby changed. If the right hon. Gentleman will follow me, I am wanting to add to Clause 2, line 44, that there should be not only members possessing full voting rights and other members, but also representatives of these...