HC Deb 19 June 1950 vol 476 c868
Sir H. Williams

May I ask for your Ruling, Mr. Speaker? Last Thursday, the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, in answer to a question with reference to some legal proceedings in Ireland, made this remark: The House will not expect me to say more while the matter is sub judice in the Irish courts."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 15th June, 1950; Vol. 476, c. 521.] Whereupon, I asked, on a point of order, whether the Rule in regard to British courts also applies in the case of foreign courts. May I ask for your Ruling, Mr. Speaker, on the matter?

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member for Croydon, East (Sir H. Williams), asked me on Thursday if the Rule which prohibits discussion on a matter which is sub judice in British courts applies to matters which are sub judice in courts of law outside Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The answer is "No." As I ruled in the case of the Allied Court at Nuremberg on 22nd November, 1945, the Rule in terms applies only to British courts. Reference to matters sub judice before other courts may be affected by considerations of courtesy or taste, but not by the Rule.