§ Mr. SpeakerI hope that this will be a convenient moment to give my answers to questions relating to the position of Mr. Wedgwood Benn which have been raised with me by the hon. Member for Leeds, West (Mr. C. Pannell) in the House and by letter, and by Mr. Wedgwood Benn.
The House has not yet pronounced upon Mr. Benn's petition. Until the House decides otherwise, I have no authority to rule save according to what I believe to be the existing law and practice of Parliament applicable to what prima facie appear to be the facts.
My conclusion is that until the House directs otherwise Mr. Benn may not occupy any of the seats reserved for hon. Members either inside or outside the Bar, or in the Galleries, or enter the Division Lobbies, or pass beyond the door-keepers at either end of the Chamber, save to be admitted to the Distinguished Strangers' Gallery.
Whether or no, on the occasion when the House debates the Report of the Committee of Privileges, Mr. Wedgwood Benn may address the House from the Bar is a matter for the decision of the House at the time. As the House has yet to discuss the issues which arise, I think it best that I should not state my reasons.
§ Mr. C. PannellI am very grateful, to you, Mr. Speaker, for that Ruling, which, I think, is firm enough guidance. You will appreciate that in raising this matter I made the point that this procedure is so rare that we did not want one who has served the House with distinction for many years to be put at any disadvantage from lack of knowledge of procedure.
Therefore, I take it—I must speak now to the Leader of the House through you, Sir—that on the appropriate occasion Mr. Benn will proceed to the Bar, and I hope that the Leader of the House will indicate to the House that leave might be given for him to address the House from the Bar, so that no irrevocable step should be taken by this place before Mr. Wedgwood Benn has been heard. Of course, there are two very good precedents for that.
§ Mr. SpeakerI think that before the Leader of the House answers that question, I should make plain a word that I used, namely, that whether or no Mr. Benn could address the House from the Bar would be a matter for the decision of the House at the time. By that I mean that it will be necessary, in my belief, for hon. Members concerned to table an appropriate Motion. No doubt, it is convenient to consult with the Officers of the House as to the precise form of it.
§ Mr. Emrys HughesMr. Speaker, could you say whether Mr. Wedgwood Benn will be allowed into the Crypt to pray there that he shall not be permanently buried in the mausoleum called "another place"?
§ Mr. SpeakerI think that for a number of reasons I will not rule about that.