HC Deb 04 May 1972 vol 836 cc608-10
Mr. Heffer

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. May I ask whether the Prime Minister has indicated to you that he wishes to make a personal statement arising out of the very bad-tempered behaviour—

Mr. Speaker

Order. If the hon. Member for Liverpool, Walton (Mr. Heller) wishes to raise a point of order, it must be done after Business Questions.

Later—

Mr. Heffer

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Last night during the passage of the European Communities Bill my hon. Friend—

Mr. Speaker

Order. Is this a matter which happened in Committee of the whole House? The hon. Member is seeking to raise something which happened in Committee of the whole House —is that so?

Mr. Helfer

Mr. Speaker—

Mr. Speaker

Will the hon. Member be good enough to reply to my question? Is he seeking to raise something which happened during the Committee stage of the Bill?

Mr. Heller

Mr. Speaker, while—[Interruption.]—I am getting a lot of advice from hon. Members, but if hon. Members do not mind I shall try to answer the point myself.

Mr. Speaker

Order. I am sorry, but this is a question to which I must have an answer, "yes" or "no ". Is it a matter which happened during Committee stage?

Mr. Heffer

I cannot answer that question with a direct "yes" or "no ". It is like my being asked "Have you stopped beating your wife "? I never have beaten my wife, so it would be a ridiculous question.

Mr. Speaker

Order. I did not ask the hon. Member that question. I do not think that would be a matter for me. I gathered from his earlier intervention, when I had to ask him to wait, that he was, in fact, seeking to raise something which happened during the Committee stage of the Bill. That can be raised in Committee of the whole House, but it cannot be raised in the House.

Mr. Heffer

Perhaps I might be allowed to finish my replies to your question, Mr. Speaker. I am raising a question of general principle of which there was an example last night. The example happened to be that the Prime Minister sat in his place bawling and shouting like a street corner yobo—

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Member cannot refer in the House to anything that has happened in Committee. He can raise any question of the behaviour of an hon. Member in relation to something which has happened in the House, but not in Committee.

Mr. Heffer

May I ask why the Prime Minister was allowed to act in a most disgraceful way while my hon. Friend was raising a point of order and why he has not made a statement to the House as a result of that disgraceful behaviour?

Mr. Speaker

I am sorry. The Clerk will now proceed to read the Orders of the Day.