§ 37. Mr. Roseasked the Lord President of the Council whether he will move to appoint a Select Committee to inquire into the case of the hon. Member for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, whose imprisonment was notified to the House on 22nd January.
§ Mr. WhitelawNo, Sir.
§ Mr. RoseI am sure that the House will join me in deploring any violence in Northern Ireland, from whatever quarter it may come. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the hon. Member for Fermanagh and South Tyrone (Mr. McManus) was sentenced in his absence for an offence which did not involve violence? Does not the right hon. Gentleman consider that it is a matter of concern to the House to know the circumstances in which this took place and the circumstances in which the hon. Gentleman now finds himself?
§ Mr. WhitelawThe position is, naturally, a matter of concern to the House, but I do not believe that it would be appropriate to appoint a Select Committee to inquire into the hon. Gentleman's suggestion. The question of imprisonment was dealt with in the recent Report of the Committee of Privileges.