§ Sir Bernard BraineI wish to raise a matter of privilege of which I have given you previous notice. My complaint is based on reports in The Times and The Guardian newspapers today, where it is reported that the National Abortion Campaign has refused to give any evidence before the House of Commons Select Committee on Abortion. In The Times newspaper a spokesman of the National Abortion Campaign Steering Committee is reported as saying:
We will boycott the Select Committee and encourage other organisations to boycott the Committee.A little later the spokesman is reported as saying:We hope to discredit the illusion of a fair Select Committee. There is no way that this Committee can look at our evidence logically and fairly".The Guardian newspaper report is of a similar nature, and I refer particularly to the following words:The National Abortion Campaign bluntly said 'We believe that it will serve no purpose to talk to MPs who are already poised to restrict the existing abortion legislation'".The House will recall that we set up a Select Committee on 9th February. Accordingly those statements as reported are, I submit, a gross contempt of the House as a whole since the organisation concerned is saying unequivocally, first, that a Committee set up by a majority of the House should be boycotted and, secondly, that it will encourage others not to give evidence to the Select Committee.I respectfully ask you, Sir, to rule, first, that these statements are, in the words of 1105 "Erskine May", a "reflection on Members"—that is to say, the suggestion is that the House which set up the Select Committee has no authority worthy of respect and is incapable of considering important matters fairly and objectively. Secondly, I would ask you to rule that such statements are calculated to deter other witnesses from giving evidence and are clearly meant to have that effect.
May I conclude by saying that in all the years I have been a Member of the House I cannot recall a more serious and blatant attempt to frustrate the Members of this House in carrying out the onerous duties assigned to them by the majority of their colleagues. I respectfully ask you to rule on this grave matter.
§ Mr. SpeakerWill the hon. Gentleman bring the newspapers to the Table?
§ Newspapers handed in.
§ Mr. SpeakerI am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for giving me notice that he wished to raise this matter. I shall consider his complaint and give my ruling tomorrow.