§ The following Question stood upon the Order Paper:
§ 15. Mr. OsborneTo ask the Minister of Labour if, after consultation with the Trades Union Congress he will introduce legislation to make secret ballots compulsory before any strike action is taken.
§ Mr. PannellOn a point of order. Do I understand that Question No. 15 has been withdrawn, Sir?
§ Mr. SpeakerYes.
§ Mr. PannellI want to protest about a Question containing an innuendo being withdrawn in this way. The withdrawal of the Question has prevented my making a request to the hon. Member for Louth (Mr. Osborne) that he should prove some of these statements. This Question, with these imputations, is slanderous.
§ Mr. SpeakerI see nothing slanderous in the Question at all.