§ Mr. PENNEFATHER(by Private Notice) asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether any men of the British Navy were kidnapped in Ireland on Sunday night or yesterday morning; and, if so, how many; and what action the Admiralty propose to take?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Mr. Amery)I have no information that any men of the British Navy have been kidnapped in Ireland.
§ Lieut.-Colonel ARCHER-SHEEDoes the hon. Gentleman's answer cover the case of pensioners and coastgaurds who are ex-naval men?
§ Mr. AMERYI made inquiries from the Admiral at Queenstown upon receipt of the question as to whether any men of the British Navy had been kidnapped, and he said they had no information. If the hon. and gallant Member will put down a further question I will inquire into that point.
§ Mr. DEVLINWill the right hon. Gentleman use his position in the House for the purpose of refuting statements of those Members of the House who put these malevolent question and spread false information, or is it his idea that 1983 it all depends in whose interests the information is given?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is a matter for me. I asked the hon. Member, and he assured me that he had adequate information, whether correct or not, upon which to base this question, and the responsibility is mine.
§ Mr. DEVLINIn view of certain rulings which you, Mr. Speaker, have given in the House in regard to questions about Ireland, may I ask whether there is any power resting with you or with the Government to prevent these continuous misrepresentations from being given publicity in the House of Commons? Denials come from Ministers, and there is no repudiation of these lies——
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Gentleman is using quite unnecessary adjectives. I take full responsibility for the question, and I think it is quite a proper one, as, if correct, it affected naval men in the employ of this House.
§ Mr. PENNEFATHERIs it permissible for hon. Members of this House to bring charges of misrepresentation and lies and things of that kind against another hon. Member who simply asks a question based upon a telegram which he has received to the effect that a certain incident has taken place? Would not that prevent every Member of this House from asking any question based upon information which he has received?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI have already said that I think the hon. Member was justified in his question. That was why I accepted it in the special form of a Private Notice question.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEWhy should he be called a liar?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI am afraid that Irishmen, from whatever part of Ireland they come, are apt to put superlatives into their speech.
§ Sir J. BUTCHERMay I ask your ruling on this very definite question: Is it in order for a Member of this House to attribute malevolent, false and malicious motives in putting a question?
§ Mr. SPEAKERAny attribution of motives is against the rules of the House, 1984 and I hope that the hon. and learned Member will support me in preventing it.