HC Deb 23 January 1963 vol 670 cc93-5
Sir Norman Hulbert (Stockport, North)

Mir. Speaker, I desire to raise a matter of Privilege for your consideration.

On Saturday, 19th January, at approximately 10.45 p.m. the British Broadcasting Corporation televised a feature programme entitled "That Was The Week That Was". It would appear to bear very little resemblance to any particular week. It was introduced by a Mr. David Frost, who proceeded to name 13 right hon. and hon. Members—[HON. MEMBERS: "Why not?"]—

Mr. Speaker

Order. I hope that the House will allow me to hear this, because I have to be able to hear it.

Sir N. Hulbert

It was said that they had not properly carried out their Parliamentary duties. I have here a full transcript of the broadcast. It is lengthy, and I will summarise it.

I think that I can best illustrate the tenor of the remarks of Mr. Frost by quoting what was said about my right hon. Friend the Member for Woodford (Sir W. Churchill) and the hon. and highly respected Member for Liverpool, Scotland (Mr. Logan). This is it: Two of them are very old men, 88-year-old Sir Winston Churchill and 91-year-old David Logan, and old men forget; they even forget the way to Westminster. Mr. Frost then referred to the right hon. Member for Popular (Mr. Key) and the hon. Members for Oldbury and Halesowen (Mr. Moyle), Norwich, North (Mr. Paton) and Glasgow, Springburn (Mr. Fortran), my hon. Friend the Member for Southgate (Sir B. Baxter)—about whom a third-form joke was made—the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Central (Mr. Oswald), my hon. Friend the Member for Stockport, South (Mr. H. Steward), the hon. Member for Gateshead, East (Mr. Moody), and for my hon. and Gallant Friend the Member for New Forest (Sir O. Crosthwaite-Eyre) there was projected on to the screen a picture of the hon. and learned Member for Northampton (Mr. Paget), and to myself.

Offensive remarks were made about how long it takes to mention hon. Member's names and there was also a remark made about an hon. Member on this side of the House and a dog. As I said, this broadcast did not confine its attention to any one section in the House and, having checked with one or two hon. Members concerned—and this applies to me personally—the remarks were in many cases completely inaccurate.

There was, finally, a slighting reference to yourself, Mr. Speaker, for it was stated that the B.B.C. would be very pleased to supply you with the photographs of the hon. Members referred to—the inference being that you yourself were unable to recognise them—which would appear rather unfair on you, as they would, presumably, include that of my right hon. Friend the Member for Woodford.

I submit that this performance—if one can call it so—-was not only an unwarranted attack on the hon. Members I have mentioned, but that certain suggestions Which were made were really holding up the House of Commons to ridicule. I have with me a transcript of this broadcast and I would ask you, Mr. Speaker, to consider it and, after consideration, say whether or not you think I have made out a prima faciecase of breach of Privilege, or whether, in your view, Che matter should be dealt with with the contempt it deserves.

Mr. R. T. Paget (Northampton)

Since my features were used to illustrate in a most libellous way observations on an hon. Member opposite, may I say that I have communicated with the B.B.C. to tell the Corporation that I will forgive that libel on myself since it took part in such a delightful and amusing programme.

Mr. Speaker

I do not think that on this issue the threats by the hon. and learned Member for Northampton (Mr. Paget) to the B.B.C. are matters for my concern.

I am obliged to the hon. Member for Stockport, North (Sir N. Huilbect) for letting me have the script. I will consider his complaint and rule upon it tomorrow.

Mr. Sydney Silverman (Nelson and Colne)

Further to the point raised by the hon. Member for Stockport, North (Sir N. Hulbert), may I ask you, Mr. Speaker, whether it would be possible to include in your Ruling, after you have had an opportunity of considering it, the cognate question, namely, whether it would be a breach of Privilege on the part of this admirable programme to include this incident in its programme next week?

Mr. Speaker

My powers in the matter do not extend to a cognate question of such a kind.