EXEMPTED BUSINESS (Motion)

Dr Toh Chin Chye: Mr Speaker, I beg to move,

That the proceedings on items I and 3 on the Order Paper be exempted from the provisions of Standing Order No. 1. Question put, and agreed to.

Mr David Marshall rose -

Mr Speaker: On a point of order?

Mr David Marshall: Sir, I was wondering whether we could debate that motion.

Mr Speaker: It is Standing Order No 4(1):

'A motion may be made, without notice, by a Minister, at the commencement of public business or at any time between 7 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. to be decided without amendment or debate, to the effect either [this is the first alternative]-

(a) that the proceedings on any specified business be exempted at this day's sitting from the provisions of Standing Order No. 1.'.

So there is no debate and there is no amendment, but just a vote.

Mr David Marshall: Sir, could I ask whether you would agree to a ten-minute adjournment so that this matter could be discussed? It has been sprung on us by surprise. There are several items involved, and to give us another midnight to 4 a.m. debate at this stage - sprung as it is by surprise - is not fair.

Mr Speaker: Order. I do not think that is in order at all. Under the Standing Orders, the motion has been properly moved and agreed to.

Dr Lee Siew Choh rose -

Mr Speaker: Is it a point of order?

Dr Lee Siew Choh: Yes. Could you explain what this is all about?

Mr Speaker: The position now is that the debate on the amendment as shown in item I will be proceeded with to its conclusion. After the amendment has been disposed of, we will go back to the main motion in item 1. It has already been agreed that the debate on the main motion in item I would cover the contents of the motion standing in the name of the Prime Minister, that is, his motion in regard to the White Paper on the reunification of Singapore and the Federation, as well as the contents of the amendment to the Yang di-Pertuan Negara's speech which deals with the question of merger - that is, the amendment standing in the name of the Member for Queenstown - as well as that part of the Yang di-Pertuan Negara's speech dealing with merger.

The Prime Minister: Sir, may I add that Members are aware that at 2.30 p.m. tomorrow the debate on the Budget Statement must commence. There are so many items that we will have to go through after the Budget session is over that we shall run very close to Christmas before we are finished. We have tried to get a Saturday and a Sunday sittings.

Mr Speaker: Order. I do not think the Prime Minister should invite a debate now.

Resolved,

That the proceedings on items 1 and 3 on the Order Paper be exempted from the provisions of Standing Order No. 1.