§ Mrs. Renée ShortOn a point of order. I wish to draw to your attention a matter which I am advised may constitute a breach of Privilege and which appears to be not only an attack on me personally, which does not matter particularly, but also possibly a wider contempt of Parliament. I have to explain to the House why this matter is being raised today and not yesterday. On Wednesday and Thursday of this week I was in my constituency as an observer of the proceedings of the Select Committee on Race Relations, which was carrying out an investigation in Wolverhampton.
This report appeared in the Wolverhampton Express and Star on the evening of Wednesday 5th March. As I only returned to the House yesterday this is my first opportunity to raise it in the House, after taking advice on it last night when I returned. The report concerns the proposal to take a Committee of this House to Wolverhampton, as the Race Relations Committee went to Wolverhampton to carry out its parliamentary duties. The report is entitled "Another protest on M.P.s visit" and rightly indicates that there have been protests before. The article says:
The prospect of Wolverhampton's Labour M.P. Mrs. Renée Short heading a Commons Select Committee to look into aspects of the town's housing finance next month has 850 brought another strong protest from Alderman Peter Farmer, Chairman of the Tory-controlled Council's housing committee.After last night's housing committee meeting Alderman Farmer said: 'I personally think it is unwise for the Labour M.P. for Wolverhampton, North-East to come to her own town in the capacity of chairman of this committee.If she feels she needs information about housing finance, she should go to a neighbouring authority where she is less personally involved and could give a fairer and more dispassionate review of the situation.It is just not possible for her to do this in Wolverhampton'.This implies that because I happen to be Member of Parliament for Wolverhampton, North-East, I am incapable of conducting an impartial or fair inquiry, or of being in charge of an all-party Committee which is investigating housing subsidies on the Ministry of Housing and Local Government's Vote. This Committee has been set up by the House and has been charged by the House to investigate this aspect of Government expenditure.In my view, this statement casts a slur on the Committee and, therefore, on Parliament and could hinder the work of Parliament by hindering the investigations of the Committee. I ask for your ruling, Mr. Speaker, that a prima facie case has been made out.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Lady will bring the newspaper to the Table.
§ [Copy of newspaper handed in.]
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Lady complains of an article in the Express and Star, I suppose of Wolverhampton, and she claims that Privilege is involved in the article, which she has read to the House. I will rule on the matter on Monday, as is usual.