§ Mr. Hector HughesOn a point of order. May I ask, with the very greatest respect, whether in refusing permission to put a Private Notice Question to the Secretary of State for Scotland about the disaster——
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. If the hon. and learned Gentleman wishes to make a submission about a Private Notice Question which has been refused, he cannot mention the Private Notice Question itself.
§ Mr. HughesYou said when refusing me, Sir, that you had regard to the rules laid down on page 358 of Erskine May relating to Private Notice Questions. My question related to a disaster——
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I would deprecate the asking of reasons of Mr. Speaker as to why he did not accept a Private Notice Question. Mr. Speaker receives, every day, requests from hon. Gentlemen to ask a Private Notice Question. Very many of those he turns down, and if he were to be asked to give the reasons, day after day, this would trespass on the time of the House.
The hon. and learned Gentleman must have the confidence that I hope that the House has in the judgment and fairness of Mr. Speaker. May I assure the hon. and learned Gentleman that I took into consideration, in refusing his Private Notice Question, every factor that he has mentioned on the pages in Erskine May to which he has referred.
§ Mr. HughesFurther to that point of order. May I say, with respect, that I have the greatest confidence in your fairness and judgment, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.