§ MR. HOWELL (Bethnal Green, N.E.)I beg to ask the Solicitor General whether his attention has been called to a paragraph in the Manchester Examiner of March 19th, to the effect that an application is to be made to the Court to try the case arising out of the Salford gas frauds in camera; and whether it is competent for a Judge to order such a case of fraud to be tried in camera, the Press and the public being excluded from the Court?
§ MR. HOWORTH (Salford, S.)Before this question is answered I wish, Sir, to raise a small point of Order. I want to know whether it is competent for a Member, during the progress of a trial, to put a question in this House about a matter of fact already settled and decided, but in regard to which some prospective action is pending, such question being only calculated to prejudice one of the parties in the case. In view of the misunderstanding which has already arisen in regard to this matter, perhaps I may be allowed to make an exceedingly short statement. [Cries of "Order."] Then I will content myself with putting the question of Order.
§ * MR. SPEAKERThere is nothing disorderly in the question, and the Law Officer of the Crown can reply, if he chooses so to do.
§ THE SOLICITOR GENERAL (Sir E. CLARKE,) PlymouthIn reply to the hon. Member, T have to state that I had not seen the paragraph in the paper to which he calls my attention until he was good enough to send it to me. I have communicated with the hon. and learned Member for York, who is leading counsel for the defendants; and he informs me that there is not the slightest foundation for the suggestion that it is proposed to make an application to the Court to try the ease in camera.