§ Mr. NallyBy your leave, Mr. Speaker, I should like to make a personal statement with regard to an incident in which I was concerned, which took place in the House yesterday. I should be deeply grateful if you, Sir, would accept my profound apologies for what, as I now see it, was a quite improper reluctance to withdraw quite unreservedly an expression I used in a supplementary question to the Prime Minister following his announcement of the appointments to the Royal Commission on the Press. The phrase to which objection was so widely taken should not have been employed by me, nor should I have hesitated a moment in withdrawing it and apologising to you, Sir, and to the House. Accordingly I ask your permission to emphasise that the words employed by me yesterday should never have been used in the House; I deeply regret that they were used, and I desire again unreservedly to withdraw them.
§ Mr. SpeakerI am sure the House will receive with pleasure the statement the hon. Member has made.