HC Deb 28 July 1959 vol 610 cc283-4
Mr. Langford-Holt

I beg to present a Petition on behalf of G. B. W. Walsh for leave to be given to certain Officers of the House to attend a trial and give evidence concerning certain proceedings and debates of the House. As I propose to move a Motion in respect of this Petition, I ask that the Petition be read.

The Clerk of the House read the Petition, which was as follows: To the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled. The Humble Petition of Geoffrey Brian Whittington Walsh, a partner in the firm of Swepstone, Walsh & Son, Solicitors for the Defendants in an action entered for trial in the Queen's Bench Division and entitled Philip Burrington Dingle and Associated Newspapers Limited, Arthur George Wareham and Michael Kelly SHEWETH That reference is to be made in the said action to the report placed before your Honourable House on the fifteenth day of May, 1958, by the Committee to whom the Manchester Corporation Bill was referred. And that excerpts from speeches and remarks made by the Honourable Members of your Honourable House in debate in connection with the Manchester Corporation Bill and all matters connected therewith, having been quoted in the newspaper published by the first named Defendants and all such speeches and remarks being set down in the volumes of the OFFICIAL REPORT of your Honourable House for Parliamentary Debates, namely HANSARD, reference to such OFFICIAL REPORT is desired to be made in the said action. Wherefore your Petitioner prays that your Honourable House will be graciously pleased to give leave to the proper officers of your Honourable House to attend the trial of the said action and to produce the report of the said Committee, the Journal of the House, so far as it is relevant, and all numbers in the volumes of the said OFFICIAL REPORT appertaining to speeches and remarks concerning the Manchester Corporation Bill and formally to prove all the same before the Court according to their competence. And your Petitioner, as in duty bound, will ever pray, etc.

Mr. Langford-Holt

I beg to move, That leave be given to the proper Officers to attend and to produce and prove the Journal and the said documents accordingly and to give evidence verifying the same.

Mr. Hirst

I beg to second the Motion.

Mr. Donnelly

Is it in order for me to object, Mr. Speaker?

Mr. Speaker

I should remark that this is the time for unopposed business. If the business is opposed it cannot be taken today. I think that the hon. Member for Pembroke (Mr. Donnelly) himself has some experience of a similar situation.

Mr. Donnelly

I only seek to elucidate the procedure because I am still very new to this jungle of objections. I merely wish to inquire whether it is in order for me to object to the Motion.

Mr. Emrys Hughes

I object on the ground that this takes up the time allotted to Scottish Questions.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member for Shrewsbury (Mr. Langford-Holt) must put the Motion down for tomorrow.

Petition to lie upon the Table.