§ Mr. MagnayMay I be allowed to make a personal explanation as to what happened in the House on Tuesday? An Education Bill for Scotland was discussed, and, in the course of a speech which otherwise I thought quite reasonable, I commented on the lack of attendance of Scottish Members. In doing so, unwittingly, I hope I need not say, I did them a grave injustice. Because of circumstances over which they had no control, which in these times I must not mention, but which they know too well, they were not able to get here. I hope that Scottish Members on both sides of the House will believe me when I say that I regret that I said that.
§ Mr. MaxtonI am one of those who were not here, and there were very good reasons for the absence of, I think, a large majority of Scottish Members. We would not have minded what the hon. Member said, because we Scotch are inured to the gibes of the English race, but I would put it to the Secretary of State for Scotland or the Patronage Secretary that it surely might have been possible—
§ Mr. SpeakerThis is clearly out of Order. The hon. Member for Gateshead (Mr. Magnay) has made a personal statement and it is the practice of the House that it should be accepted or rejected without debate.