Sir Rolf Williams: May I ask the Leader of the House whether he is aware that I have today tabled a Motion which proposes to bring the Murder (Abolition of Death Penalty) Bill back to the Floor of the House for discussion in Committee of the whole House? In view of the grave event yesterday, in which the police were concerned, will the Government provide an early opportunity for this Motion to be discussed,...
Sir Rolf Williams: With respect, Mr. Deputy-Speaker, I would have thought that it was relevant and in order for the Prime Minister to refer to a document which points out that—[Interruption.]
Sir Rolf Williams: Sir Rolf Dudley Williams rose—
Sir Rolf Williams: On a point of order.
Sir Rolf Williams: Will the Prime Minister give way?
Sir Rolf Williams: Sir Rolf Dudley Williams rose—
Sir Rolf Williams: Another important matter is that their salaries can go up one weekend and can come down the next.
Sir Rolf Williams: On a point of order, Dr. King. Am I permitted to move that the Chairman do report Progress and ask leave to sit again? After the speech of my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Huntingdonshire (Sir D. Renton) it is quite impossible for the Committee to make up its mind on this important issue, which is a constitutional issue. The Prime Minister abrogates to himself these powers. He...
Sir Rolf Williams: Further to that point of order. My hon. Friend below the Gangway has made the remark and he was rather surprised that he had misheard what my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Withington (Sir R. Cary) had said. There is no doubt that my hon. Friend the Member for Withington did not say "crooks".
Sir Rolf Williams: I follow the hon. Gentleman's argument. Does he think it in order that the Prime Minister, when he resigned from the office of the President of the Board of Trade some years ago, should immediately have become consultant to a timber firm?
Sir Rolf Williams: I want to take up the remarks made by the hon. Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Emrys Hughes). We are always getting arguments about remuneration of hon. Members and whether the Opposition Chief Whip should be remunerated by the State or at liberty to accept office outside the public service. The hon. Member made the usual "cracks" about my right hon. Friend the Member for Barnet (Mr....
Sir Rolf Williams: Does not the hon. Gentleman know that many sections of the public service are absolutely seething at the way their pensions are being eroded by the inflation taking place under the present Government? Will he give immediate attention to rectifying this scandalous state of affairs?
Sir Rolf Williams: In view of the remarks made by the hon. Member for Salford, West (Mr. Orme), will the hon. and learned Gentleman consider publishing in HANSARD a list of members of the Government who did not go to a State school and of hon. and right hon. Members opposite who do not intend to send their children there?
Sir Rolf Williams: I have been listening most carefully to what my right hon. Friend has said about the percentages. Is it not a fact that the number of non-capital murders has substantially increased while the number of capital murders has remained the same?
Sir Rolf Williams: May I oppose the suggestion made by my hon. Friend the Member for York (Mr. Longbottom)? Every time the Chancellor comes here he makes things worse. May I repeat the question put by my hon. Friend the Member for Torquay (Sir F. Bennett), who asked if we were to have a statement before the House broke up about the credit squeeze, in respect of which the Government have given instructions? Does...
Sir Rolf Williams: On a point of order, Dr. King. Would it be in order for me to put a question through you to the Patronage Secretary, as the right hon. Gentleman is looking at the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Maxwell) in such a way that I wonder whether he will see him as well as the hon. Lady the Member for Rochester and Chatham (Mrs. Anne Kerr)?
Sir Rolf Williams: On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. As I understand, the right hon. Gentleman the First Secretary of State has made a statement which will result in considerable changes in the way we conduct our affairs. We have asked him for an opportunity for a debate and the right hon. Gentleman will not give us time for a debate. He is to start implementing this new organisation. May I put it to you, Mr....
Sir Rolf Williams: On a point of order, Dr. King. We are, as I understand, considering the first Amendment, which refers to the Minister of Land and Natural Resources. The right hon. Gentleman's reply on behalf of the Government is referring also to Amendments Nos. 2 and 3. While I support Amendment No. 1, I do not think that I support Amendment No. 3, and, as we have not agreed to take all these Amendments...
Sir Rolf Williams: I will.
Sir Rolf Williams: On a point of order. May I seek your guidance, Dr. King? It is obvious that the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, one of the most courteous of hon. Members, is severely embarrassed because he cannot answer numbers of the questions which have been put by right hon. and and hon. Friends. In view of this, and as we are trying to justify this considerable expenditure of public money, would...