§ 3.45 p.m.
§ Mr. SpeakerI have a Ruling to make on Privilege. Yesterday the hon. Member for Rutland and Stamford (Mr. Kenneth Lewis) drew attention to a report in the Evening News on Thursday, 13th July, which appeared to him to constitute a breach of privilege. I have given very careful consideration to the hon. Member's complaint, and I have also studied the precedents to which he referred in support of his submission. It is my duty, however, to inform the House that, in my view, the report in the Evening News does not, prima facie, constitute a contempt of this House and does not, prima facie, involve a breach of any of its privileges.
This simply means that I cannot allow the hon. Member's complaint precedence over the Orders of the Day, but that has no effect on what the House may choose to do in the matter if it should be raised by the hon. Member or anyone else by a substantive Motion.