§ 6. Mr. Liptonasked the Attorney-General which counsel has been instructed to appear before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in connection with the Parliamentary Privileges Act, 1770.
§ The Attorney-GeneralNo nominations have yet been made. I am at present somewhat engaged on other matters.
§ Mr. LiptonI know, but must the decision in this matter stand over until the Attorney-General has finished cleaning up the City of London, which may take a long time? Will he consider the possibility that, pending a decision in this matter, writs may be piling up somewhere ready for service on Members in respect of what they may have been saying in the House during the past few years? May I beg of him to come to an early decision in the matter?
§ The Attorney-GeneralI do not suppose that it would take very long to come 1047 to a decision on nominating counsel. I cannot say anything about when the case is to come up for hearing by the Privy Council, because a lot depends on the arrangements of the Privy Council. It must also be borne in mind that, if this case is to be properly argued on both sides, whoever is nominated to appear for the other side will, and should, have ample opportunity for research and for formulating the arguments in support of their view.