Lindsay Hoyle
Main Page: Lindsay Hoyle (Speaker - Chorley)
Mr Bernard Jenkin (Harwich and North Essex) (Con)
On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. Could you clarify whether the House has the option to take today’s votes in an order that would facilitate the expression of Back-Bench opinion, as we will be debating Back-Bench business? In the usual course of events, a motion is not voted on until the amendments have been taken. That means that if the Government use their majority to whip through an amendment, the House will never get the opportunity to vote on the motion that the Backbench Business Committee selected for debate. Is it possible for you to ensure that the House has an opportunity to vote on the motion that was selected for debate, or are we in the hands of the Whips and those under their influence?
Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle)
Unfortunately, I have been told that the answer is no; those are the rules on how votes are taken. As frustrating as that may be for the hon. Member, those are the rules of the House as they stand.
Kate Hoey (Vauxhall) (Lab)
Further to that point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. Given that this is a Backbench Business Committee debate and the will of the House needs to be heard, would it not be sensible for Her Majesty’s Government to accept the point that the hon. Member for Harwich and North Essex (Mr Jenkin) has made and not move the amendment?
Mr Deputy Speaker
As a long-serving Member, the hon. Lady is well aware that that is not a point for me to rule on, but Government Front Benchers will have heard it. There does not seem to be much movement from them to comment, so we will move on.