Sir Rolf Williams: Before the Postmaster-General reaches a final decision about the new designs of telephone kiosks, will he look at some new designs in America and note their size and the material of which they are made, which is aluminium? Secondly, in considering the new design of telephone kiosks, will he make quite sure that they are big enough for men and women of above average proportions to be able to...
Sir Rolf Williams: I am fascinated by the hon. Lady's discourse. She has pretty well convinced me that all aid to under-developed countries is a waste of money. But how does she suggest that we should form her authority, which is to run the whole of the economic aid to under-developed countries? Could she enlarge upon that point?
Sir Rolf Williams: rose—
Sir Rolf Williams: The hon. Lady has not begun to.
Sir Rolf Williams: Further to the point of order, Mr. Speaker. Might I add one or two remarks? I should like to help the House as much as possible, and as I have probably objected to more Bills than any other hon. Member, I think I have some experience. With great respect to the hon. Member for Islington, East (Mr. Fletcher), I do not think he understands what is meant by the word "Object". When one says...
Sir Rolf Williams: The hon. Member knows that in Committee stage one cannot deal with the principles behind a Bill. It is absolute bunk to say that it is possible to send a Bill to Standing Committee and get it into shape when there has not been an opportunity adequately to discuss it on Second Reading.
Sir Rolf Williams: The hon. Member seems to have the idea that we are frightened of being identified. When I object to a Bill, I make it clear. In fact, I did not object to his Bill, and indeed I have not objected to any Bills this afternoon. But I have objected to a great many in the past, and I think I have done a public service by stopping them from getting through. The hon. Member talks about culprits as...
Sir Rolf Williams: The hon. Member for Orpington (Mr. Lubbock) will not be here for long.
Sir Rolf Williams: On a point of order. Is it right that an hon. Member should accuse other hon. Members of acting under a cloak? Is not the assumption that one is not behaving in an honest fashion?
Sir Rolf Williams: I see the point which the hon. and learned Member mikes, and I think that there is some substance in it, but, since the Molony Committee was concerned only with protection for the consumer, what sort of article is likely to come outside the limit of £2,000? I should have thought that £2,000 was a pretty high figure.
Sir Rolf Williams: I apologise for being out of the Chamber for some time. I was present earlier this afternoon, but, unfortunately, I had to leave to deal with some urgent business. I shall not detain the House for more than a few moments, and I apologise to my right hon. Friend for not being able to be present when he winds up the debate because I have other urgent business with which I must deal. I am not...
Sir Rolf Williams: Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that one of the most important principles of war is economy of force, and that all our experience of the United Nations seems to lead us to believe that this principle would not be maintained?
Sir Rolf Williams: Just like the Swift.
Sir Rolf Williams: The hon. Member for Dudley (Mr. Wigg) is wriggling. He is too slimy.
Sir Rolf Williams: May I refer back to the point raised by the right hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Grimond)—the question of independence? Does not my right hon. Friend know that there has been considerable expression of opinion in Malta that the vast majority of the people there do not want independence at all? Will he give an assurance that there will be ample provision in the referendum for...
Sir Rolf Williams: Would the firms in question be like British Railways; cut in half?
Sir Rolf Williams: May I ask a question which is designed to elicit an explanation by you, Mr. Speaker? When your Ruling is made tomorrow will there be an opportunity for us to make further points at the moment?
Sir Rolf Williams: Further to that point of order. I wanted to refer to the speech by Mr. McGovern, at Los Angeles, when he made similar allegations.
Sir Rolf Williams: If the figures are available, will my right hon. Friend tell the House what charge would fall on the Exchequer if the charges for spectacles and teeth introduced by the Labour Government were also abolished?
Sir Rolf Williams: I agree that when a design is finalised one can put through a pilot production and get an estimated cost, but one cannot do that when a weapon such as Bloodhound is continuing its development, and is being modified even up to this day.