§ Sir Harmar NichollsOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Once again I draw your attention to two recent abuses of Standing Order No. 9 procedure.
The first one came from the hon. Member for Manchester, Openshaw (Mr. Charles R. Morris). He made no attempt to justify urgency, which is the basis of the Standing Order. He used the occasion purely and simply as a vehicle to get over propaganda points, which is bound to undermine the strength of the Standing Order.
My hon. Friend the Member for Harborough (Mr. Farr) also raised a point which carried no urgency with it. It was 734 clearly a point which could have been answered had a special Question been put down, which I gather was not allowed. If it is a matter which should be raised at all, it should be raised under a special Question and not under the Standing Order No. 9 procedure.
If it is that this abuse of the procedure is allowed to go on, then this very vital instrument for drawing attention to matters which are of real importance and are really urgent will be completely ruined. I believe that this evidence should be taken into account and acted upon.
§ Mr. SpeakerI have noted what the hon. Gentleman has said.
§ Mr. EwingOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Is it in order for the hon. Member for Peterborough (Sir Harmar Nicholls) to use the facilities of the House to display his utter contempt for the future of mankind in the form of unemployment and in the form of the nuclear threat?
§ Mr. SpeakerI think that the hon. Member for Peterborough (Sir Harmar Nicholls) was on a point of House of Commons procedure, and I have noted what he said. I do my best. I frequently interrupt hon. Members on either side of the House when they are making their applications. This is a House of Commons point, and I have noted what the hon. Member for Peterborough has said.