§ Mr. Robin F. Cook (Edinburgh, Central)On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. You indicated at the time when the Divorce Law Reform (Scotland) Bill was objected to that you would take points of order at the end rather than at that time. It may have been your intention—but it may have slipped your mind at the end of the Bills—to say some words regarding the vigorous and rude gesture made by the hon. Member for Glasgow, Hillhead (Mr. Galbraith) towards myself and my hon. Friend the Member for Keighley (Mr. Cryer). It was a gesture which was clearly unparliamentary. Although all such expressions are referred to in "Erskine May" as unparliamentary language, I think that the gesture clearly carried a force which could normally be expressed in words and which would certainly be unparliamentary if said in the House.
Mr. Deputy SpeakerI am much obliged to the hon. Member. I am afraid that I did not see the gesture since I was preoccupied with the motions which were to be brought forward. It would be very difficult for anyone to rule that 1853 a gesture was either kindly or unkindly if he had not seen it. I think that the hon. Member's point of order will be duly read by the hon. Member concerned.
§ Mr. CookI take it that you would agree, if you had seen the gesture, that it indicated contempt for the customs of the House.
Mr. Deputy SpeakerThe hon. Member is very clever. V signs vary a great deal. They were made respectable by Sir Winston Churchill. There are other signs. However, I did not see the sign, and I cannot rule.
§ Question put and agreed to.
§ Adjourned accordingly at twenty-nine minutes to Five o'clock.