The Clerk has announced that there is an equality of votes for and against the motion. In these circumstances the duty of the casting vote, as it is called, now falls on me as your Speaker.
I should make it clear that I am casting my vote tonight on purely procedural grounds. The precedents and practice of the House of Commons are designed to ensure that if the House cannot make a definitive decision on a question, the possibility should be left open for the question to come again before the House if members so choose.
Therefore, since the House has been unable to take a decision tonight, I will vote so that members may be given another opportunity to pronounce themselves on the issue at some future time and, accordingly, I cast my vote in the negative.
I declare the amendment defeated.
The next question is on the main motion. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?