HC Deb 06 July 1904 vol 137 cc807-9
MR. LOUIS SINCLAIR (Essex, Romford)

said he desired to draw the attention of the Speaker to Sessional Order No. 11, and to ask him to interpret and clearly define the meaning of it.

MR. SPEAKER

I am not called upon to give interpretations of the Sessional Orders unless an occasion arises. The hon. Member must first show that he is raising some question of privilege or Order.

MR. LOUIS SINCLAIR

said he was raising a question of privilege on Sessional Order No. 11. That Order was as follows— Ordered, that the Commissioners of the Police of the Metropolis do take care that, during the session of Parliament, the passages through the streets leading to this House be kept free and open, and that no obstruction be permitted to hinder the passage of Members to and from this House He was proceeding from that House to his home on 12th May, and on the near side of the road in Regent-street the roadway was entirely obstructed by a hose, making it impossible for him to proceed on the near side of the road without either going over the hose or waiting until the obstruction was removed. He thereupon drove on the off side of the road, and as soon as possible returned to the near side. When he stated the case to the magistrate as a question of privilege, the magistrate dismissed the question of the Sessional Order, saying, "We all know what that means." He desired to know whether hon. Members were allowed to exercise that privilege conferred by the Sessional Order, and to what distance the privilege extended from the Houses of Parliament. This was the first time he had ever been fined; he would have waited until the obstruction was removed rather than go on the wrong side of the road, if he had not believed that he was within his rights and could have free access to and from the House. He claimed that privilege as a Member of that House and as a law-abiding citizen.

MR. SPEAKER

I think the House will agree with me that it would have been better, perhaps, if the hon. Member had kept on the right side of the road. I do not think the House will expect me to leave this to them as a question of privilege; it seems to be an ordinary police case. Wherever the line is to be drawn under this Standing Order, it does not extend to an indefinite distance from the Houses of Parliament—there must be some limits to it—and I think that, in the ordinary sense of the words, an hon. Member driving up Regent Street about an hour after the House had risen could scarcely expect to come within the operation of the Order.

MR. LOUIS SINCLAIR

said he had not, perhaps, made himself clear. Mr. Speaker said that he ought to have waited or gone on the right side of the road; but he could not because it was obstructed.

MR. SPEAKER

I only referred to what the hon. Member had said, that, finding he could not keep on the right side he went on the wrong side, relying on this Order. I said that I thought it would have been better if he had kept to the right side instead of relying upon the Order.