text_body: --- DIVISION TITLE ---
  
   &#8212; Sit in private
  
  --- MOTION EFFECT ---
  
  <p>This was a division on a motion moved by Eric Forth (MP for Bromley and Chislehurst) that the House sit in private. Those voting Aye were supporting a private session, while those voting No were indicating that the session should continue to be in public.</p>
  
  <p>In effect this was a procedural trick, as Forth had no desire for the session actually to take place in private and knew that the motion would be defeated. However, the rules of the House state that if fewer than 40 MPs vote on a motion to sit in private during a debate on another issue, then the debate on that issue is brought to an end there and then, and the House moves on to the next issue on its agenda. By ensuring the defeat of a motion to sit in private at the start of that day's proceedings, Forth prevented any MP from moving a similar motion during consideration of the other Private Members' Bills on that day, which might force the end of the debate. Specifically, the move was targeted at the Drugs (Sentencing and Commission of Inquiry) Bill which was to be debated first and which would have set up a Commission on the laws on Cannabis.</p>
  
  <p>As a House of Commons matter, no whips were applied on this division.</p>
  
  
  --- COMMENTS AND NOTES ---
  
  (put thoughts and notes for other researchers here)
  