§ Mr. David SteelOn a different point of order, Mr. Speaker. I am sorry that I have not given you advance notice of this matter, but since I am not asking for an instant response, I hope that you will acquit me of any discourtesy.
You have several times said that pairing and nodding through the Lobbies are not matters for you, but I believe that an incident which occurred yesterday is a matter for you. My hon. Friend the Member for Inverness (Mr. Johnston) who was ill, was called from his bed in order to vote, because a member of the Government, even though he was in the same condition, was kept here. The public may think that we are a little odd in the way in which we conduct our affairs.
My point of order is that I was told that my hon. Friend could not remain in his office and be nodded through the Lobby because his office is in the new building in Norman Shaw North, which is still outside the precincts of the House. It seems to be a matter which should be drawn to your attention if hon. Members cannot remain in the privacy of their own rooms because we have extended the premises. How can we extend the definition of the precincts of the House so that hon. Members may remain in reasonable comfort when they are brought here even when, in my view, that is done unnecessarily?
§ Mr. SpeakerI shall look into the matter raised by the Leader of the Liberal Party, but the usual channels will have heard what has been said. I should have thought that, in the first place, it is a matter for reasonable and compassionate understanding.