HC Deb 08 August 1900 vol 87 cc971-2
Mr. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)

I rise to call attention to a matter which affects the privileges and practice of this House. I wish, Sir, to ask you whether the Speaker, as the guardian of the rights and privileges of the House, is not entitled to request the light hon. Gentleman the Colonial Secretary to produce certain letters which he says he has in his possession, and which affect Members of this House—letters which the right hon. Gentleman quoted from on Friday last.

*Mr. SPEAKER

There is no question of privilege involved, and the hon. Member cannot address the House except upon a question of privilege. I have no right to ask a Minister such a question as he suggests.

Mr. SWIFT MACNEILL

You will bear with me. This is a very serious matter.

*Mr. SPEAKER

I cannot allow the hon. Member to occupy the time of the House on the suggestion that something is a matter of privilege which does not involve any question of privilege.

Mr. SWIFT MACNEILL

It involves —[Ministerial cries of "Order, order!"] I shall not be shouted down. It involves the honour of Members of this House. The Colonial Secretary has made a statement which affects the honour of Members of this House.

*Mr. SPEAKER

That is not a question of privilege.

Mr. SWIFT MACNEILL

But is there not a ruling by Sir Erskine May, that no Member of the House shall read or quote from a document unless he is prepared to lay it upon the Table?

*Mr. SPEAKER

I am quite aware of the ruling the hon. Member refers to. If any member of the Government were to quote from some document, there may be a right to have the whole of it read. That is a question of order, not of privilege, and the point of order should be raised at the moment the question arises. There is no question of privilege at all.