§ Mr. Mark Woodnutt (Isle of Wight)Before the House proceeds, Mr. Speaker, may I seek your guidance on a matter of the convention of the House? I was absent in my constituency yesterday at the Royal Isle of Wight Annual County Show. Late in the evening a Lobby correspondent rang to tell me that the hon. Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) had made false statements, allegations and innuendoes about me during the motion on the Adjournment.
Literally 20 minutes ago I had delivered to me here a letter which came in my post this morning, dated yesterday, from the hon. Member for Fife, West informing me of his intention. Is it not the custom of this House that if an hon. Member intends making defamatory statements about another hon. Member he should give him adequate notice of his intention?
§ Mr. SpeakerIt certainly is the convention of the House that notice should be given of any such intention.