COMPLAINT OF PRIVILEGE (Hansard, 3 May 1973)

§ Mr. George Cunningham

Mr. Speaker, I have an extremely unpleasant point to raise. It concerns the question whether I have been impeded in the discharge of my parliamentary function by a decision of the Serjeant at Arms.

1476 Last evening, I was informed by one of the Assistant Serjeants at Arms that the Serjeant at Arms had given a specific instruction that I was not to be provided with a copy of the list of Lobby correspondents accredited to this House. A copy of that list is kept by the Serjeant at Arms as the proper Officer of the House.

Yesterday, for the purposes of my parliamentary duties in connection with an important piece of legislation next week, I wished to be in touch with a large number of Lobby correspondents. Therefore, I wished to have a complete and up-to-date list of correspondents. I did the correct and simple thing of asking at the office of the Serjeant at Arms for the list.

First, I was told that the list was confidential. That was such an obvious imbecility that the position was quickly changed. I was then informed that, while I could look at the list, I could not make a copy of it. Naturally, I protested at that as any hon. Member would do.

I was then informed late last evening that the Serjeant at Arms, despite my remonstrations, had personally instructed that I was not to be given a copy of the list. Lobby correspondents come here not to talk to the Serjeant at Arms but to talk to me and other hon. Members— [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh!"] They come to talk to me rather than the Serjeant at Arms and to be available to me rather than the Serjeant at Arms.

There are two other sources from which I might get the list. One is Vacher's, but that is out of date. The other source is, of course, the Press Gallery, but naturally and rightly, we have a restriction on entering the Press Gallery premises so as to preserve the privacy of the correspondents. In any case, the Serjeant at Arms is the proper official to whom I should go for this simple facility.

This is an idiotic and childish bit of petty obstructionism. I ask you, Mr. Speaker, to do two things. First, can you use your authority—I understand the restrictions and the position between the House and the Serjeant at Arms, given its curious and ridiculous historical nature— to ensure that before this afternoon is out I obtain a copy of the very simple thing for which I am asking? I am still being 1477 hampered in the conduct of my parliamentary duties by not having it.

I ask you not to rule upon this matter now but to consider it and whether the refusal of this simple facility constitutes an obstruction of my parliamentary duties amounting to a contempt of this House or to a breach of privilege of a Member.