§ SIR WILFRID LAWSONsaid, that he wished to put the following Question to the right hon. Gentleman in the Chair:—Whether, as the House has decided forcibly to prevent Mr. Brad-laugh, one of the duly elected Members for Northampton, obeying the statutory obligation under which alone he can serve his constituents in this House, the seat for Northampton is now vacant; and, whether it is competent for any Member to move that a Writ be issued for the election of a Representative to serve in Parliament for the borough of Northampton in the room of Mr. Brad-laugh?
§ MR. SPEAKERThe hon. Member for Carlisle will allow me to state that the Speaker is bound to answer all Questions on points of Order that may be put to him as they arise; but I must respectfully observe that the Question that the hon. Baronet now puts to me is one which relates to a matter which is for the determination of the House itself. I may say, however, that the House does not entertain any proposal for issuing a new Writ for any constituency unless the seat be vacant.
§ SIR WILFRID LAWSONasked how the seat was to be declared vacant?
§ MR. SPEAKERThat is not a matter for me to determine.