§ Mr. MORRELLI beg to ask the Prime Minister a question of which I have given private notice—whether he has seen the report of the speech made by Mr. Justice Grantham at Liverpool yesterday, and whether the Government propose to take any steps in the matter?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Asquith)I have read the report of what Mr. Justice Grantham said at Liverpool yesterday. This House is very scrupulous to discourage anything in the nature of censure, or even of comment, within these walls, upon the doings or sayings of His Majesty's judges. But there is a reciprocal obligation on the part of the judges not to take advantage of the immunities of their judicial position to reflect upon the proceedings of this House or of its Members. That obligation, usually so loyally recognised on the Bench, appears on this occasion to have been signally violated, and, while I should as at present advised, deprecate the matter being treated as one of privilege, I would ask the House to allow His Majesty's Government time to consider the best way of dealing with what is happily a unique situation.
§ Mr. WEDGWOODMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether similar reciprocal obligations do not rest on the Coroners and Recorders who have in the last few 292 weeks been making remarks about the Aliens Act?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat does not arise out of the question.