§ Sir HENRY CRAIKI desire to put to you, Mr. Speaker, a question, of which I have given you private notice: Whether your attention has been called to a rumour, insulting to His Majesty's Ministers and Members of this House, propagated by persons on Mr. Speaker's list, to whom the privilege of entering the Lobby has been accorded, which rumours acquire their importance from the fact that the person responsible is known to have access to the precincts of the House, and is thus supposed to be in touch with the Members of the House; and whether you are prepared to consider the propriety of withdrawing the privilege thus abused?
§ Mr. SPEAKERIn reply to this question, I have to say that my attention has not been called to the specific instance to which the hon. Member refers, and I do not know now to what it relates. But, as a general principle, I should like to say with regard to privileges which are given to members of the Press to use the 331 Lobby, if it is proved to me that they are abused in any way, those privileges will be at once suspended, and possibly wholly withdrawn.
§ Mr. PRINGLEIs it not desirable when a charge is made of abusing privileges, that the particulars of the charge should be stated?
§ Mr. SPEAKERWhen I receive those particulars, I will investigate them and deal with them, but I do not know in the least what they refer to.