§ Sir THOMAS INSKIP(by Private Notice) asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will give an early opportunity of discussing the Motion on the Paper in the name of the hon. Member for Pontypridd (Mr. Mardy Jones) referring to the conduct in the Chair of the Chairman of Standing Committee A?
§ The LORD PRIVY SEAL (Mr. Clynes)The House is naturally very jealous for the maintenance of the position of the Chairman of its Committees; but the state of Government business is such that it would be almost impossible to find time for the discussion of this Motion. In any case I am glad that I have the authority of my hon. Friend the Member for Pontypridd for saying that the Motion on this subject standing in his name is to be taken off the Paper. I think the House will agree that this closes the matter in a satisfactory manner. [HON. MEMBERS: "No!"]
§ Sir T. INSKIPHas the Lord Privy Seal the authority of the hon. Member for Pontypridd for saying that he regrets the attack made on the Chairman of Standing Committee A?
§ Mr. CLYNESI have his authority only for the statement I make that immediately the Motion will be taken off the Paper.
§ Sir K. WOODMay I address a question to the hon. Member for Pontypridd and ask him whether he withdraws his allegation against the Chairman of the Committee?
§ Mr. PRINGLEOn a point of Order. Is it not within the right of an hon. Member to put a question to another hon. Member in relation to any Order he has put down on the Paper?
§ Mr. WESTWOODIs it not within the competence of any hon. Member, when a question is addressed to him, to refuse to answer it?
§ Mr. SPEAKERIf the Motion is still on the Paper, the hon. Member for Penistone (Mr. Pringle) is correct.
§ Sir K. WOODThen may I press for a reply to my question?
§ Mr. MARDY JONESI should be the last Member of this House wantonly to challenge the authority of the Chair, either in the House or in Committee upstairs. The chief purpose of my Motion was to vindicate the rights of private Members in the promotion of Bills in the Committee stage. It is a fact within the knowledge of most Members of this House that the Chairman of Standing Committees, wisely or unwisely, do not regard a private Member's Bill as being of the same importance as a Government Bill. [HON. MEMBERS: "Withdraw!"] I have nothing further to add.
§ Colonel ASHLEYSurely we cannot leave the matter there. If an allegation is made against an hon. Member of this House who, as Chairman of a Committee, has a very important public function to perform, surely the hon. Member who makes it should either substantiate it or withdraw it.
§ Sir PHILIP LLOYD-GREAMEIf the hon. Member in whose name this Motion stands does not propose to give any further answer, may I ask the Deputy-Leader of the House whether he considers that the statement made by the hon. Member is an adequate withdrawal of the charge which he has made?
§ Mr. CLYNESThat is not a matter on which I need express an opinion. I conclude that my hon. Friend was quite entitled to place his Motion on the Paper, and is equally entitled to withdraw it.
§ Sir T. INSKIPmay I ask the Lord Privy Seal whether, if I put down a Motion in the terms of my Amendment to the hon. Member's Motion, in view of the necessity of protecting hon. Members against unjustified attacks, he will give an opportunity for discussing my Motion?
§ Mr. STURROCKOn a point of Order. May I respectfully ask you, Mr. Speaker, whether these are not points which should be addressed to yourself as Speaker of the House?
§ Mr. WESTWOODIs it not a fact, Mr. Speaker, that hon. Members opposite actually placed upon the Order Paper a Motion against yourself, and never apologised to you?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThere have been before now, from time to time, Motions such as this placed upon the Order Paper. In some cases they have been left on the Paper for some weeks, and in other cases they have been withdrawn almost immediately. The hon. Member is within his right both in placing the Motion on the Paper and in withdrawing it, and I do not see that the House can proceed further in the matter.
§ Sir T. INSKIPMay I call your attention to the fact that it was only last night, when I communicated with the Lord Privy Seal telling him of my intention to raise this question, in order that the attack which had been made upon my hon. and gallant Friend might be either withdrawn or pressed home, that, apparently, an intimation was given to the Lord Privy Seal that the Motion would be taken off the Paper, although it is on the Paper to-day? Is it in accordance with the traditions of this House that an accusation of that sort should be made and not withdrawn without some regret being expressed?
§ Mr. SPEAKERWhen I occupied the lower Chair, I recollect two hon. Members putting down a Motion criticising my action in the Chair, and they neither took it off the Paper nor apologised. I think that the position is now quite clear. The hon. Member for Pontypridd having taken his Motion off the Paper, it no longer remains as a charge against the Chairman of the Committee, and Members of the House can form their own opinion.
§ Mr. WESTWOODOn a point of Order. May I ask if you heard the un-gentlemanly expression used by an hon. Member opposite, and if he is going to be gentlemanly enough to withdraw the expression which he used—or repeat it outside, when, big as he is, I think I shall be able to hold my own against him?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI heard an expression, which I immediately rebuked. I do not think that any further notice need be taken of it.
§ Lieut.-Colonel JAMESI withdraw the expression, which I used in the heat of the moment. I wanted to hear someone else speak instead of the hon. Member.