§ Sir Hugh O'NeillMay I raise a point of Order? I put down a Private Notice Question to the Prime Minister for this afternoon which you, Mr. Speaker, accepted. A moment ago I had from your Secretary a letter saying that as there was a Question on the Order Paper on Monday in the name of my hon. Friend the Member for Queen's University of Belfast (Professor Savory) that particular Private Notice Question was, therefore, not in Order. But today my hon. Friend himself received from your Secretary a letter in which it is stated that he need not withdraw his Question and that my Question would still be in Order. In any event, I suggest to you that the terms of my Private Notice Question were not the same as the terms of the Question which my hon. Friend put down for Monday.
§ Mr. SpeakerI am very sorry about this. The fact of the matter is, I admit I asked the right hon. Gentleman to postpone his Private Notice Question for 24 hours because I thought it would be more convenient both to him and to the Prime Minister. Unfortunately, the hon. Member for Queen's University of Belfast (Professor Savory) put in what is a block under the Rule. Had the block not been put down on Tuesday I think I might have waived the Rule, because I had asked the right hon. Gentleman to postpone his Question for 24 hours. However, I found out today that the hon. Member for Queen's University had put down his Question on Tuesday, so that it will now be answered on Monday instead of Thursday. I am very sorry hut, after all, I cannot help the affairs of the two Members from Ulster.
§ Sir H. O'NeillMy hon. Friend the Member for Queen's University received from your Secretary a letter dated today, 28th October, in which it is stated that he need not withdraw his Question and that my Question would still be in Order, even though his Question remained upon the Order Paper.
§ Mr. SpeakerI tried to adjust matters with the hon. Member for Queen's University, who I think actually got a further letter cancelling my original letter. I tried to adjust matters in order that the right hon. Gentleman should be in Order in asking his Private Notice Question. I was quite prepared to take the blame myself because I had asked him to postpone it for 24 hours, but there was the block put down not yesterday but the day before, and I felt obliged to stick to the Rules of the House. I am very sorry.
§ Sir H. O'NeillMay 1 submit, as a further point of Order, that my Question is not in the same terms as the Question of the hon. Member for Queen's University? His Question asks the Prime Minister for a general statement as regards the discussions which took place at Chequers with the Ministers of Southern Ireland, whereas my Question asks the Prime Minister for a specific statement whether there was any discussion there about the constitutional position of Northern Ireland. I submit that they are two entirely separate points, and, in view of that, I ask you, Mr. Speaker, to allow me to put my Private Notice Question.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe subject matter was covered by the Question of the hon. Member for Queen's University. Perhaps I might make a suggestion. It is within the power of the Prime Minister, if he so chooses, to make a statement without being asked a Question. If he so chooses. I should not object.
§ Sir H. O'NeillI think the Prime Minister is prepared to make a statement. Therefore, may I ask——
§ Mr. SpeakerI have suggested a way out. I do not think there is any more to be said. If the Prime Minister chooses to make a statement it will come after the statement on Business.