Handicapped And Deprived Children (Abolition Of Corporal Punishment) Bill

Order for Second Reading read.

Hon. Members
Object.

Mr. Bruce Grocott  (Lichfield and Tamworth)
On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. You will recall that last year the House passed the Protection of Children Act, which encountered a procedural difficulty at this point in its passage, when there was an objection to Second Reading. In the interests of the House, I should like it to be made clear whether the objections to the Second Reading of this Bill are procedural or whether there are hon. Members who are in favour of beating handicapped children.

Mr. Deputy Speaker (Mr. Bryant Godman Irvine)
It is not a matter for the Chair.

Mr. Grocott
Further to that point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. We have just given a Second Reading to a Bill concerning freedom of information and open government. Repeatedly during the  past week I have found it impossible to discover outside the House anyone—

Mr. Deputy Speaker
Order. Those are not matters for the Chair.

Mr. Grocott
rose—

Mr. Deputy Speaker
The hon. Gentleman has raised no point of order.

Mr. Grocott
On a new point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. It has been impossible to find anyone outside the House to debate with me the issue raised by that Bill.

Mr. Deputy Speaker
Order. I have already ruled that there is no point of order in the matter that the hon. Gentleman is raising.

Mr. Robert Kilroy-Silk  (Ormskirk)
On a different point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Given that the hon. Member for Cheadle (Mr. Normanton) seems to spend most of his time on EEC matters, may we hear his reasons for objecting to Second Reading?

Second Reading deferred till Friday 2nd February.