§ Mr. FauldsOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I seek your guidance on a matter of grave public importance. Is there any way in which the Christian right hon. Member for Wolverhampton, South-West (Mr. Powell) can be induced to discuss in this Chamber—which he has so far failed to have the courage to do—the matters upon which he always pontificates before sympathetic audiences wherever he can find them? Is there any way in which we can do this?
§ Mr. SpeakerThis is a point of political criticism, and political criticism is not unknown in Britain. It is not a point of order for Mr. Speaker.
Mr. William Rodgers, to answer Question No. 74.
§ Mr. FauldsFurther to that point of order, Mr. Speaker—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The hon. Gentleman must temper his enthusiasm. I have ruled on his point of order.
§ Mr. FauldsFurther to that point of order—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The hon. Gentleman must by now know what Parliamentary behaviour is. I have ruled on his point of order.
§ Mr. FauldsThis is another point of order.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Another point of order.
§ Mr. FauldsYou have refused to countenance discussion of my point of order, Mr. Speaker, because you have 1234 said that it is a matter of political disagreement. This question, which the right hon. Member for Wolverhampton, South-West raises whenever he feels that there is some use that he can make of it for his political ambitions, is a fundamental, moral problem and not a political one. In those terms are not we allowed to discuss it?
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Any hon. Member can discuss almost anything on the proper Parliamentary occasion. The hon. Gentleman has said that the right hon. Gentleman has raised a moral point. Mr. Speaker is not a moral judge—
§ Mr. FauldsI had hoped that you were, Sir.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Mr. Speaker cannot compel any hon. Member to speak in the House of Commons. Indeed, one of his jobs is sometimes to try to resist hon. Members who wish to speak.
Mr. Rodgers, to answer Question No. 74.