HC Deb 13 February 1902 vol 102 c1269
MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury what precedents are there for the refusal of the Government to give facilities for the discussion of the judicial conduct of a judge, which forms the subject of a special Motion placed on the Paper of the House of Commons.†And whether, having regard to the fact that criticism of the conduct of a judge is forbidden by the Orders of the House, except in discussion of a specific Motion for that purpose, and that the Motion now on the Paper of the House embodies a distinct censure of a learned judge, he will consider the propriety of giving facilities for the discussion of the Motion, or of instituting a Motion for the removal of the Motion relating to the conduct of the learned judge from the Notice Paper, when the reasons on which that Motion is grounded could be shown.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I do not think it would be desirable to give, an opportunity for the discussion which the hon. Member has asked for, nor do I think it would be in accordance with precedent.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

Are there any precedents for the refusal of a discussion?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I think there are.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

I can state that there are not.