HC Deb 15 December 1966 vol 738 cc663-5
Mr. Hugh Fraser

On a point of order. May I ask your guidance and assistance, Mr. Speaker? Questions Nos. Q9 and Q11 concern the House of Commons and I wonder whether it would be possible for the Prime Minister to answer them before we go into recess as they deal with the matter of Parliamentary privilege.

Mr. Speaker

That is a question for the Prime Minister and not for Mr. Speaker.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Wilson)

Further to that point of order. When I made, most unusually and exceptionally, a statement about telephone tapping, I said that it was exceptional and that I did not intend to answer any further Questions on that issue. Since I said at that time that it involved no extension of Parliamentary privilege—which it is not in my power to extend in any case—I submit that the issue of Parliamentary privilege does not arise.

Mr. Speaker

I think that the Prime Minister has now answered Questions Nos. Q9 and Q11.

The Prime Minister

I have the Answers to those Questions. What I have just said is not the exact prepared Answer. I was explaining, on a point of order, why I was not asking your leave, Mr. Speaker, to answer them after Questions.

Mr. Hugh Fraser

With great respect to you, Mr. Speaker, and the Prime Minister, there has been a change since the Prime Minister made his statement. This privilege has been extended to the House of Lords, where there are well known to be several members of the Communist Party. This is quite a different matter. I beg to ask the Prime Minister to answer these Questions now, or he will put this House in a privileged position against the whole of the rest of the community.

Sir Charles Taylor

On a point of order. Following the point of order raised my my hon. Friend the Member for Peterborough (Sir Harmar Nicholls), as the Prime Minister knew what would be the length of his Answers to the Questions Q1 to Q7, did he ask your permission, Mr. Speaker, to answere the other five Questions?

Mr. Speaker

I think that that is a bogus point of order.