HC Deb 14 October 1975 vol 897 cc1134-5
Mr. Speaker

I shall now rule on the matter of privilege raised yesterday.

I have considered the matter of the complaint made yesterday by the hon. Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr (Mr. Rooker) of an article in The Economist of 11th October. I am satisfied that the matter of the complaint is such that I should permit a motion on it to be given precedence over the Orders of the Day.

The Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. Edward Short)

In view of your ruling, Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, That the matter of the complaint be referred to the Committee of Privileges. It would be in the interests of the House as a whole now if we decided that no further debate should take place at this stage.

Mr. Whitelaw

In accordance with precedent, I hope that the House will agree that the proposal of the Leader of the House is right in the circumstances and that my right hon. and hon. Friends will agree that the proper course is for the matter to go to the Committee of Privileges now without further debate.

Question put and agreed to.