HC Deb 14 November 1949 vol 469 cc1689-90
Mr. Scollan

May I ask you, Mr. Speaker, whether you have given consideration to the matter which I placed before you on Thursday last on the question of the Strasbourg Assembly and the fact that the Prime Minister very definitely said that this was a Parliamentary delegation? I should like to know your Ruling on the matter?

Mr. Speaker

I am afraid I was correct and that the hon. Member was wrong. The hon. Member drew my attention to what was said by the Prime Minister as reported in HANSARD, and the Prime Minister reported the names of those Members who were going to Strasbourg. It was an important matter, and therefore, it was said in the House, but it was no more an official delegation than, for instance, a party which I accompanied to Italy. In that case, the names were not reported in HANSARD but were reported in "The Times." No delegation is official merely because the Prime Minister or somebody else says it is a delegation, and it is reported in HANSARD. HANSARD is not an official document. If one wants to find what is official, then one should read the Journal. If it is reported in the Journal, then it would be official. That, I think, is the answer to the hon. Member.

Mr. Scollan

May I point out, Mr. Speaker, that while HANSARD may not be an official journal, I do not think anybody would question the accuracy of the report in that particular issue. In this particular instance, when the Prime Minister brought the matter before this House, he said that this was a Parliamentary delegation. I have seen all kinds of Parliamentary delegations going from this country to other countries, but this is the only one I ever knew to be brought before the House, and the names of the delegates mentioned.

Mr. Speaker

I must point out to the hon. Member that although it was a delegation which consisted of Members of this House and of one member from another place, it was not an official delegation which spoke for the House of Commons. Every Member was entitled to speak as an individual and to give his own point of view. If the hon. Member will look at the questions in HANSARD, he will see that the objection was raised, not because it was an official delegation, but because all the parties were not represented so that all kinds of party views would not be stated at Strasbourg. I think that point must be made clear, and that they were not supposed to speak with one voice.