HC Deb 13 March 1951 vol 485 cc1485-6
Mr. Manuel (Central Ayrshire)

Mr. Speaker, I want to ask for your guidance. As I have understood since coming to the House, deliberate obstruction is not in order. The point of order I want to ask your Ruling on—and I do it as soon as possible and without delay after the Ruling that you have given today—has arisen from a speech made this evening and reported on the tape at 11.19 p.m. by the hon. Member for East Aberdeenshire (Mr. Boothby) at Banstead, Surrey. He is reported as follows: 11.19—Tory Plan to Exhaust Labour M.Ps.—

Mr. Speaker

This is a speech made outside the House, and as far as we are concerned there is no point of order in anything an hon. Member says outside the House. That can be dealt with in some other way. That is not a matter of Privilege or order.

Mr. Manuel

In my opinion I must ask you if there is a prima facie case to go to the Committee of Privileges.

Mr. Speaker

Then surely, the hon. Member having raised it at the first opportunity, I must have a little chance to consider it. If he chooses to submit the matter in the morning to me I will give a Ruling on it. I cannot do it now, at this hour in the morning. I think it is only courtesy to let me have a chance to look at it.

Mr. Manuel

I want the opportunity, if you will allow me, to read what has been referred to. It is a short extract.

Mr. Speaker

I really ought to see it first. One does not want to gatecrash into these things—if one, may use those words. I have to consider the matter dispassionately. I have no doubt that my decision Is not always accepted by the House. As I really must have a chance, let the hon. Member submit it to me and I will see whether it is a case to be submitted to the House. That is the usual way. To submit it now, at 1.30 in the morning and to ask me to make any statement one way or the other—that is quite impossible. I do not think it is reasonable.

Mr. Manuel

I am very sorry if I have been too hurried. I tried to put into practice what I thought was your Ruling earlier today.

Mr. Speaker

That is quite correct. The hon. Member has raised it at the earliest possible moment and it is without prejudice to anything I may decide tomorrow morning.