§ Mr. ShinwellMay I ask for your guidance, Mr. Speaker? You will recall that, during the Committee stage of the Home Guard Bill, an incident occurred when the hon. Member for Nelson and Colne (Mr. S. Silverman) came into conflict with the Deputy-Chairman of Committee of Ways and Means, as a result of which you were sent for. When you arrived, you adopted the customary procedure, as laid down in the Standing Orders, of naming the hon. Member.
As you are aware, Mr. Speaker, before the hon. Member could be asked to withdraw from the Chamber, a Motion had to be moved, in this case by the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the House, although I understand that it does not follow that the Leader of the House should always move such a Motion. But, when the Leader of the House rose to his feet, at your request, to move the Motion, I ventured to rise to ask him a question which, in your discretion, you refused to allow me to do.
The purpose of my question was to ascertain from the right hon. Gentleman whether, if my hon. Friend the Member for Nelson and Colne, on reflection, thought it desirable to express his regret for what had occurred, leniency could be exercised. That was the purpose of my hon. Friends and myself. You, Sir, of course, were not aware of the nature of my question, but that was my purpose. On further consideration, some hon. Members, including myself, ventured to ask you whether you would consider the position in order to ensure that no injustice was done to an hon. Member—[Interruption.]—who, on reflection, wished to express regret for what had occurred.
I submit to you that that is a reasonable suggestion, and I wish to ask you whether you have given the matter consideration, and whether you can offer guidance to the House in order to avert an incident of that kind occurring again.
Mr. SpeakerWe are so close to the regrettable events of early this morning that I would prefer, if the House agreed, to defer a complete reply to the right hon. Gentleman until tomorrow, when we can have the reports before us. I came into the House early this morning, having been sent for, in ignorance of what had taken place in the Committee and of the facts with which I was to deal. If the right hon. Gentleman will agree, I will consider the matter this evening and deal with it.
§ Mr. Emrys HughesOn a point of order. In view of the unavoidable absence of my hon. Friend the Member for Nelson and Colne (Mr. S. Silverman), may I put it to you, Mr. Speaker, that your statement be delayed until next Monday—until the hon. Member returns?
Mr. SpeakerI do not think that is necessary. The right hon. Gentleman was asking a question for the general guidance of the House, and I can give that guidance in the absence of the hon. Member for Nelson and Colne.