HC Deb 18 November 1976 vol 919 cc1581-92
Mr. Speaker

I now have to rule on the complaint of privilege raised by the hon. Member for Howden (Sir P. Bryan) yesterday. The hon. Member suggested that his complaint had something in common with that raised by the hon. Member for Paddington (Mr. Latham) on Tuesday. That may be his view, but I must emphasise that each complaint must be considered by the Chair separately and on its own. In reaching my decision, I have therefore considered the complaint of the hon. Member for Howden in complete isolation from that of the hon. Member for Paddington.

Though I have something to add at the end of my ruling, I shall come straight to the point. I rule that this is a matter on which the House should have the opportunity to express an opinion. I am therefore prepared to give precedence over the Orders of the Day to a motion concerning the complaint.

The 1967–68 Select Committee on Parliamentary Privilege drew the attention of the House to the fact that the powers of the House in regard to privilege, and particularly in the matter of contempt of the House, were extremely wide in their scope and that, in its view, these powers should only be exercised extremely sparingly. It is not for me to comment on that Committee's opinion on the exercise of the powers of the House, since, as I reminded the House yesterday, the House has never come to a conclusion on the Committee's recommendation.

However, no one can deny that the circumstances in which it is open to the House to treat a complaint as a contempt are wide in their scope, and, as long as that remains the case, any Speaker must give a complaint which falls within that scope precedence over the Orders of the Day.

The Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. Michael Foot)

In view of your ruling, Mr. Speaker, I shall move a motion. I beg to move, That the matter of the complaint be referred to the Committee of Privileges. As I said yesterday, it has been the general custom—I do not say that it has always been the case—after a Speaker has ruled in the sense that you have just ruled that a motion of this character should be moved by the Leader of the House. That has been acceptable to the House on many occasions, and yesterday's debate and the decision reached by the House somewhat reinforce the idea that we should proceed along those lines today. I hope that the House can reach an early conclusion on this proposal.

Mr. Eric S. Heffer (Liverpool, Walton)

I am sorry to delay the House and I know that many hon. Members will feel that, after the debate yesterday, it is unnecessary, but, having carefully read the document concerned, I consider that we should we wasting the time of the House and of the Committee of Privileges if this matter were taken to the Committee. On that basis, I hope that hon. Members will vote against the motion.

As I have said, I have looked at the matter carefully. Any document which suggests that Mr. David Basnett and my hon. Friend the Member for Burnley (Mr. Jones) are dangerous and wicked Reds is so ludicrous that, frankly, it would be a waste of the Committee's time and energy even to consider such a document. Those hon. Members who feel that they have a right to take the matter further should do it through the courts on this occasion.

Yesterday the circumstances were rather different. I had not read the document yesterday. It is a pity that all hon. Members had not had the opportunity to see it. But now I have been able to read it, and it is so ludicrous and so silly that I hope the House just chucks it out and goes no further with it.

Mr. Peter Tapsell (Horncastle)

I entirely agree with the hon. Member for Liverpool, Walton (Mr. Heffer), which is why I voted against the motion yesterday. I think that the House is in danger of bringing itself and the Committee of Privileges into disrepute by referring to it at this time general matters of political dispute.

Mr. Robert Mellish (Bermondsey)

I am glad to follow the hon. Member for Horncastle (Mr. Tapsell) and to say that I support him entirely.

Yesterday I listened to the debate and I felt thoroughly ashamed. I thought that the House did itself a great disservice, Which resulted in—[An HON. MEMBER: "Why did you not vote?"] I abstained from voting and refused to support the motion because I did not believe that it deserved support, and today, when the motion is voted upon, I shall vote against it because we have now reached the ludicrous situation where an hon. Member says something outside the House which certain individuals do not like and immediately we rush before you, Mr. Speaker, and ask for it to be placed before the Committee of Privileges—as if hon. Members did not have enough to do without listening to some of the rubbish uttered by individuals outside.

If this had been the practice in the past, we could have brought many matters before the House. I have been accused of being employed by the Church of Rome, and I have had a number of letters to that effect, and it has been said that I am in almost daily communication with it. One can almost imagine the phone calls.

I am putting the matter in perspective because the suggestion is so daft, as are all the other rubbishy suggestions that have been made. But the House took it all seriously yesterday and evidently wants to do so again today. Allegations of that kind are absolute rubbish and nonsense, and they should not waste the time of the House.

When someone outside is alleged to have said certain things, a Member of Parliament should take the matter to court and prosecute. But for the House to go through the procedure of the Committee of Privileges and have its busy members meet to consider all that rubbish again is ridiculous.

Let us throw this out and show that the House will not tolerate this kind of nonsense. I warn those who support the motion that if this goes on others will take advantage and this House will be used for every possible kind of exploitation.

Mr. David Steel (Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles)

When motions of this kind are moved by the Leader of the House, there is a precedent for the right hon. Gentleman to withdraw the motion, having listened to the debate and taken the sense of the House.

I should like to support the hon. Members who have spoken so far. In your rulings both today and yesterday, Mr. Speaker, you referred to the report, still undebated, of the Select Committee on Parliamentary Privilege of 1968. I hope that, instead of pressing this motion, the Leader of the House will give us an assurance that in the new Session the report will be considered so that we may change our rule on privilege if we so decide.

Yesterday my right hon. and hon. Friends opposed the motion, and, if the Leader of the House wishes to press it, we shall oppose this motion today.

Mr. Nigel Lawson (Blaby)

I do not think that it would be right if it were thought that the House was unanimous on this point. It seems to me that right hon. and hon. Members who have spoken so far are in grave danger of making fools of the House, because, whatever else, we must be consistent.

I fully understand that there were arguments on both sides yesterday, and some of us voted one way and some the other. But an overwhelming majority decided that the matter should be referred to the Committee of Privileges.

That was decided only yesterday, and it was very much a congruent matter. The circumstances were the same, although I admit that there was the difference yesterday that it was a complaint against one of my hon. Friends, whereas today it is a complaint against an organisation within the Labour Party. But, apart from that, it is the same complaint.

There is a congruence of names—[Interruption.] I do not intend to be provoked in any way, Mr. Speaker, you will be glad to know. You will recall that of the 10 names—

Mr. Martin Flannery (Sheffield, Hillsborough)

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Is it in order for an hon. Member to make an obvious mis-statement by saying that the Social Democratic Alliance is an organisation of the Labour Party, which it is not?

Mr. Lawson

I am given to understand that all members of the Social Democratic Alliance are members of the Labour Party. I do not think that that can be gainsaid.

As I was saying, there is a congruence of names. As the House will recall, eight of the 10 names mentioned in his speech by my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeen, South (Mr. Sproat)—the hon. Members for Bethnal Green and Bow (Mr. Mikardo), Sheffield, Brightside (Miss Maynard), Birmingham, Selly Oak (Mr. Litterick), Tottenham (Mr. Atkinson), Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Short), Penistone (Mr. Mendelson) and Barking (Miss Richardson) and the right hon. Member for Lanark (Mrs. Hart)—are included in the 33 we are discussing now. Only two of the remainder: the hon. Members for Sheffield, Hillsborough (Mr. Flannery)—I understand why he raised that phoney point of order a moment ago—and Paddington (Mr. Latham) were left out of the "Autumn Double". Therefore, there is clearly a congruence.

The second reason I oppose right hon. and hon. Members who have spoken so far is that, despite some of the frivolity yesterday—I regret that as much as you, Mr. Speaker—I believe this to be an issue of considerable importance.

I should like to conclude by quoting two matters which will, perhaps, convince right hon. and hon. Members on both sides of the House that that is so. The first is this statement: There are attempts being made by a small group, a militant group, in a number of constituencies I should think probably 20 or 30 constituencies at the present time, and I hope that the National Executive Committee will take this matter in hand. It is not a large number yet. But it is since we raised the proscription a number of very odd people have come into the party, people who do not share the kind of democratic Socialist views that I hold". That was a statement made by the Prime Minister on Panorama a few nights ago.

As I say, this is an important issue. It is not a question of whether Marxists eat their peas off a knife or whether the Tribune Group is an undercover wife-swapping agency. This is a serious matter.

The present Prime Minister is not the only Prime Minister who has believed the Marxist influence in the Labour Party to be a very serious matter. It was so thought by my right hon. Friend the Member for Sidcup (Mr. Heath) when he was Prime Minister. Many of us will recall the great concern the Marxist influence in the Labour Party caused him at the time he was Prime Minister.

Many of us will recall, for example, the Conservative Party's election broadcast, under my right hon. Friend's leadership, of 19th February 1974, in which Mr. Bert Ramelson—he, of course, is the Communist Party's industrial organiser—was quoted as saying: The party can float an idea early in the year and it can become official Labour Party policy by the autumn. Mr. Barber, as he then was—he is now Lord Barber—said in the same broadcast—

Mr. Heffer

Would the hon. Gentleman admit that Mr. Bert Ramelson was like Mandy Rice-Davies? He would, would he not?

Mr. Lawson

I must admit that I have heard that one before. It was almost as good the second time as the first time. However, I am merely quoting. I am not producing anything other than what was in this election broadcast.

The other quotation is from the noble lord, Lord Barber, who said in that broadcast, which my right hon. Friend had as part of his campaign, and rightly so: But the second thing they had to do to succeed in their Communist aims—as they frankly stated—was to replace a Conservative Government with a Labour Government—a Labour Government that would be putty in their hands.

Mr. William Small (Glasgow, Garscadden)

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. How many copious notes is an hon. Member allowed to use? It used to be a matter for some comment if an hon. Member came to the House with over-copious notes. How far has the hon. Member slipped from that dignity?

Mr. Speaker

Order. I have an overriding impression that both sides of the House are anxious to come to a decision.

Mr. Lawson

To conclude, Mr. Speaker, it seems to me that, on grounds of congruence with what happened yesterday, and on grounds of importance, as attested to both by the Prime Minister and by my right hon. Friend the Member for Sidcup when he was Prime Minister, this matter should be referred by the Committee of Privileges.

Mrs. Audrey Wise (Coventry, South-West)

The incoherent ramblings of the hon. Member for Blaby (Mr. Lawson) will undoubtedly make it easy to emphasise my own clarity and coherence in contrast. I want to draw the attention of the House to the fact that there are enormous differences between yesterday's consideration and today's.

Yesterday's consideration related to a Member of this House who accused other hon. Members of having been elected by fraud. I would have thought that there could hardly be a more serious accusation. It is not a question of saying that certain Members are Left-wing or Right-wing or any such thing, but that Members perpetrated a fraud to be elected. That statement was made by a Member of this House concerning 10 named Members and other unnamed Members.

It seems that the House has to treat that in a serious fashion and was right to refer the matter to the Committee of Privileges. But today we are considering a matter which has been raised mischievously by a Member of the Opposition, relating to wild, hysterical statements by one or two members of my own party, apparently, who represent nothing, are of no importance within the Labour Party and who do not merit the attention of this House. Those who say that these are matters equivalent in kind show their own ignorance of the importance that should be placed on statements of Members of Parliament.

The hon. Member who was accused yesterday of bringing the House into disrepute by impugning the motives of other Members, the honourable—or at any rate the Member—

Mr. Speaker

Order. There was a very clear implication in what the hon. Lady said, and she will understand that we refer to each other as honourable Members of this House.

Mrs. Wise

I shall refer to the hon. Member for Aberdeen, South (Mr. Sproat) and I hope that he takes note of the need to behave accordingly.

The hon. Member for Aberdeen, South has not only made wild imputations that other Members are elected by fraud but has descended to the politics of the gutter by poking his runny nose into everyone else's constituency, seeking to raise disruption and disunity amongst the population—[Interruption.]—Yes, Mr. Speaker, by playing off—

Mr. Speaker

Order. I remind the hon. Lady that we are not now discussing yesterday's motion. We are deciding whether the House in its wisdom wishes the matter on which I ruled today to go to the Committee of Privileges.

Mrs. Wise

I accept your ruling, of course, Mr. Speaker. It has been argued that the two matters are equivalent, and in trying to make a case that they are not equivalent it is necessary to refer to the points made earlier.

I am trying to make the case that the hon. Member for Aberdeen, South has been disruptive and causing division in the population by seeking to play off the unemployed and the sick against those fortunate enough to be employed.—[Interruption.] In doing that—

Mr. Patrick Cormack (Staffordshire, South-West)

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker—

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Gentleman is too late. I am on a point of order. The hon. Lady must address herself to the question whether the motion should go to the Committee of Privileges. I am becoming increasingly aware that the House wishes to come to a conclusion on the matter.

Mr. Cormack

rose in his place and claimed to move, That the Question be now put:—

Question put, That the Question be now put:

The House divided: Ayes 243. Noes 230.

Division No. 419.] AYES [4.32 p.m.
Adley, Robert Armstrong. Ernest Bell, Ronald
Alison, Michael Atkins, Rt Hon H. (Spelthorne) Bennett, Sir Frederic (Torbay)
Amery, Rt Hon Julian Baker, Kenneth Benyon, W.
Anderson, Donald Banks, Robert Berry, Hon Anthony
Archer, Peter Bates, Alf Biffen, John
Biggs-Davison, John Grieve, Percy Morrison, Hon Peter (Chester)
Blaker, Peter Griffiths, Eldon Moyle, Roland
Body, Richard Grist, Ian Neave, Airey
Booth, Rt Hon Albert Hamilton, James (Bothwell) Neubert, Michael
Boscawen, Hon Robert Hampson, Dr Keith O'Halloran, Michael
Bottomley, Peter Hardy, Peter Oppenheim, Mrs Salty
Bowden, A. (Brighton, Kemptown) Harper, Joseph Padley, Walter
Boyden, James (Bish Auck) Harrison, Walter (Wakefield) Page, John (Harrow West)
Bradford, Rev Robert Harvie Anderson, Rt Hon Miss Page, Richard (workington)
Braine, Sir Bernard Hastings, Stephen Palmer, Arthur
Brotherton, Michael Havers, Sir Michael Park, George
Brown, Sir Edward (Bath) Hawkins, Paul Parker, John
Brown, Huge D. (Provan) Heath, Rt Hon Edward Parkinson, Cecil
Brown, Robert C. (Newcastle W) Heseltine, Michael Percival, Ian
Bryan, Sir Paul Hicks Robert Peyton, Rt Hon John
Buchanan, Richard Higgins, Terence L. Pink, R. Bonner
Buchanan-Smith, Alick Hordern, Peter Powell, Rt Hon J. Enoch
Buck, Antony Howe, Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Prior Rt Hon James
Bulmer Esmond Howell, David (Guildford) Pym, Rt Hon Francis
Burden, F. A. Huckfield, Les Raison, Timothy
Butler, Adam (Bosworth) Hughes, Rt Hon C. (Anglesey) Rathbone, Tim
Callaghan, Rt Hon J. (Cardiff SE) Hunt John (Bromley) Renton, Rt Hon Sir D. (Hunts)
Campbell, Ian Hutchison, Michael Clark Rippon, Rt Hon Geoffrey
Canavan, Dennis Irvine, Rt Hon Sir A. (Edge Hill) Roberts, Albert (Normanton)
Carmichael Neil Irving, Rt Hon S. (Dartford) Roberts Michael (Cardiff NW)
Chalker, Mrs Lynda James, David Roberts, Wyn (Conway)
Clark, William (Croydon S) Jay, Rt Hon Douglas Ross, William (Londonderry)
Clarke, Kenneth (Rushcliffe) Jenkin, Rt Hon P. (Wanst'd & W'df'd) Rossi, Hugh (Hornsey)
Cockcroft, John Jenkins, Hugh (Putney) Rost, Peter (SE Derbyshire)
Cocks, Rt Hon Michael Jessel, Toby Royle, Sir Anthony
Concannon, J. D. John, Brynmor Sainsbury, Tim
Cooke, Robert (Bristol W) Johnson Smith, G. (E Grinstead) St. John-Stevas, Norman
Jones, Arthur (Daventry) Shelton, William (Streatham)
Cope, John Jones, Dan (Burnley) Shepherd, Colin
Corbett, Robin Jopling Michael Silvester, Fred
Cordle, John H.
Cormack, Patrick Joseph, Rt Hon Sir Keith Sinclair, Sir George
Kelley, Richard Skeet, T. H. H.
Corrie, John Kershaw, Anthony Smith, Dudley (Warwick)
Costain, A. P. Kimball, Marcus Speed, Keith
Cox, Thomas (Tooting) King, Tom (Bridgwater) Spence, John
Craigen, J. M. (Maryhill) Lamont, Norman Spicer, Michael (S Worcester)
Davies, Ifor (Gower) Langford-Holt, Sir John Sproat, Iain
Davies, Rt Hon J. (Knutsford) Lawrence, Ivan Stanbrook, Ivor
Deakins, Eric Lawson, Nigel Stanley, John
Dempsey, James Le Marchant, Spencer Steen, Anthony (Wavertree)
Dodsworth, Geoffrey Lester, Jim (Beeston) Stewart, Ian (Hitchin)
Dormand, J. D. Loveridge, John Stoddart, David
Douglas-Hamilton, Lord James Luard, Evan Stradling Thomas, J.
Drayson, Burnaby Lyon, Alexander (York) Summerskill, Hon Dr Shirley
du Cann, Rt Hon Edward Mabon, Dr J. Dickson Taylor, Teddy (Cathcart)
Duffy, A. E. P. McCrindle, Robert Thomas, Mike (Newcastle E)
Dunn, James A. McElhone, Frank Thomas, Rt Hon P. (Hendon S)
Eden, Rt Hon Sir John McGuire, Michael (Ince) Tinn, James
Edwards, Nicholas (Pembroke) Macmillan, Rt Hon M. (Farnham) Tomlinson, John
Elliott, Sir William McNair-Wilson, M. (Newbury) Torney, Tom
Evans, Fred (Caerphilly) McNair-Wilson, P. (New Forest) Townsend, Cyril D.
Eyre, Reginald Mahon, Simon Trotter, Neville
Fairbairn, Nicholas Mallalieu, J. P. W. Tugendhat, Christopher
Faulds, Andrew Marshall, Dr Edmund (Goole) Varley, Rt Hon Eric G.
Finsberg, Geoffrey Marten, Neil Vaughan, Dr Gerard
Fisher, Sir Nigel Mates, Michael Viggers, Peter
Fitch, Alan (Wigan) Malher, Carol Wakeham, John
Fitt, Gerard (Belfast W) Maude, Angus Walker, Terry (Kingswood)
Foot, Rt Hon Michael Maudling, Rt Hon Reginald Walters, Dennis
Ford, Ben Mawby, Ray Weatherill, Bernard
Forrester, John Maxwell-Hyslop, Robin Wellbeloved, James
Fox, Marcus Mikardo, Ian Wells, John
Fraser, Rt Hon H. (Stafford & St) Millan, Rt Hon Bruce Whitelaw, Rt Hon William
Fraser, John (Lambeth, N'w'd) Miller, Hal (Bromsgrove) Whitlock, William
Fry, Peter Mills, Peter Willey, Rt Hon Frederick
Galbraith, Hon T. Q. D. Moate, Roger Wilson, Rt Hon Sir Harold (Huyton)
Gardiner, George (Reigate) Molyneaux, James Young, David (Bolton E)
Ginsburg, David Monro, Hector Younger, Hon George
Glyn, Dr Alan Montgomery, Fergus
Gorst, John Moore, John (Croydon C) TELLERS FOR THE AYES
Gow, Ian (Eastbourne) More, Jasper (Ludlow) Mr. Peter Snape and
Graham, Ted Morris, Alfred (Wythenshawe) Mr. Joseph Ashton.
Gray, Hamish Morris, Michael (Northampton S)
NOES
Abse, Leo Bain, Mrs Margaret Bennett, Andrew (Stockport N)
Allaun, Frank Barnett, Guy (Greenwich) Bidwell, Sydney
Atkins, Ronald (Preston N) Barnett, Rt Hon Joel (Heywood) Bishop, E. S.
Atkinson, Norman Bean, R. E. Blenkinsop, Arthur
Awdry, Daniel Beith, A. J. Boardman, H.
Bagier, Gordon A. T. Benn, Rt Hon Anthony Wedgwood Boyson, Dr Rhodes (Brent)
Bradley, Tom Hoyle, Doug (Nelson) Radice, Giles
Bray, Dr Jeremy Hughes, Robert (Aberdeen N) Rees, Rt Hon Merlyn (Leeds S)
Brittan, Leon Hughes, Roy (Newport) Rees-Davies, W. R.
Brocklebank-Fowler, C. Hunt, David (Wirral) Richardson, Miss Joe
Buchan, Norman Hunter, Adam Ridley, Hon Nicholas
Budgen, Nick Irving, Charles (Cheltenham) Rifkind, Malcolm
Butler, Mrs Joyce (Wood Green) Jackson, Colin (Brighouse) Roberts, Gwilym (Cannock)
Callaghan, Jim (Middleton & P) Jackson, Miss Margaret (Lincoln) Robertson, John (Paisley)
Cant, R. B. Janner, Greville Robinson, Geoffrey
Carter-Jones, Lewis Johnson, James (Hull West) Roderick, Caerwyn
Channon, Paul Johnston, Russell (Inverness) Rodgers, George (Chorley)
Clark, Alan (Plymouth, Sutton) Jones, Alec (Rhondda) Rodgers, Sir John (Sevenoaks)
Clemitson, Ivor Kaberry, Sir Donald Rooker, J. W.
Cohen, Stanley Kaufman, Gerald Roper, John
Coleman, Donald Kilfedder, James Rose, Paul B.
Colquhoun, Ms Maureen Kilroy-Silk, Robert Ross, Stephen (Isle of Wight)
Conlan, Bernard King, Evelyn (South Dorset) Ryman, John
Cook, Robin F. (Edin C) Kinnock, Neil Sedgemore, Brian
Cowans, Harry Kitson, Sir Timothy Selby, Harry
Crawford, Douglas Lambie, David Shaw, Arnold (Ilford South)
Crosland, Rt Hon Anthony Lamborn, Harry Shaw, Giles (Pudsey)
Crowther, Stan (Rotherham) Lamond, James Sheldon, Robert (Ashton-u-Lyne)
Cryer, Bob Latham, Arthur (Paddington) Shersby, Michael
Cunningham, G. (Islington S) Latham, Michael (Mellon) Shore, Rt Hon Peter
Davidson, Arthur Lee, John Short, Mrs Renée (Wolv NE)
Davies, Bryan (Enfield N) Lestor, Miss Joan (Eton & Slough) Silkin, Rt Hon John (Deptford)
Davles, Denzil (Llaneill) Lewis, Kenneth (Rutland) Sillars, James
Davis, Clinton (Hackney C) Lipton, Marcus Silverman, Julius
Dean, Joseph (Leeds West) Litterick, Tom Sims, Roger
Dean, Paul (N Somerset) Lloyd, Ian Skinner, Dennis
Dunlop, John Lomas, Kenneth Small, William
Dunnett, Jack Loyden, Eddie Spearing. Nigel
Edge, Geoff Lyons, Edward (Bradford W) Spriggs, Leslie
Edwards, Robert (Wolv SE) McAdden, Sir Stephen Stallard, A. W.
Ellis, John (Brigg & Scun) McCartney, Hugh Steel, David (Roxburgh)
English, Michael McCusker, H. Stott, Roger
Evans, Gwynfor (Carmarthen) McDonald, Dr Oonagh Strang, Gavin
Evans, Ioan (Aberdare) Macfarlane, Neil Swain, Thomas
Ewing, Harry (Stirling) McGregor, John Tapsell, Peter
Fairgrieve, Russell Maclennan, Robert Taylor, Mrs Ann (Bolton W)
Farr, John McMillan, Tom (Glasgow C) Temple-Morris, Peter
Fell, Anthony McNamara, Kevin Thomas, Dafydd (Merioneth)
Fernyhough, Rt Hon E. Madden, Max Thomas, Ron (Bristol NW)
Flannery, Martin Magee, Bryan Thompson. George
Fookes, Miss Janet Maguire, Frank (Fermanagh) Thorne, Stan (Preston South)
Freeson, Reginald Marks, Kenneth Urwin, T. W.
Freud, Clement Marshall, Jim (Leicester S) Wainwright, Richard (Colne V)
Garrett, John (Norwich S) Mayhew, Patrick Walden, Brian (B'ham, L'dyw'd)
George, Bruce Maynard, Miss Joan Walder, David (Clitheroe)
Gilbert, Dr John Mellish. Rt Hon Robert Warren, Kenneth
Gilmour, Sir John (East Fife) Mendelson, John Watkins, David
Goodlad, Alastair Miller, Dr M. S. (E Kilbride) Watkinson, John
Gould, Bryan Miller, Mrs Millie (Ilford N) Watt, Hamish
Gourlay, Harry Morris, Charles R. (Openshaw) Weetch, Ken
Gower, Sir Raymond (Barry) Mudd, David Weitzman, David
Grant, George (Morpeth) Nelson, Anthony Welsh, Andrew
Grant, John (Islington C) Newens, Stanley White, Frank R. (Bury)
Grimond, Rt Hon J. Noble, Mike White, James (Pollok)
Grocott, Bruce Oakes, Gordon Wigley, Dafydd
Hannam, John Orbach, Maurice Williams, Alan (Swansea W)
Hart, Rt Hon Judith Orme, Rt Hon Stanley Williams, Rt Hon Shirley (Hertford)
Hattersley, Rt Hon Roy Ovenden, John Wilson, Alexander (Hamilton)
Hatton, Frank Owen, Rt Hon Dr David Wilson, Gordon (Dundee E)
Hayman, Mrs Helene Paisley, Rev Ian Wilson, William (Coventry SE)
Healey, Rt Hon Denis Parry, Robert Winterton, Nicholas
Heffer, Eric S. Pavitt, Laurie Wise. Mrs Audrey
Henderson, Douglas Penhaligon, David Woodall, Alec
Hodgson, Robin Perry, Ernest Young, Sir G. (Ealing, Acton)
Holland, Philip Phipps, Dr Colin
Hooley, Frank Prentice, Rt Hon Reg TELLERS FOR THE NOES:
Howell, Rt Hon Denis (B'ham, Sm H) Price, C. (Lewisham W) Mr. Cyril Smith and
Howells, Geraint (Cardigan) Price, David (Eastleigh) Mr. John Pardoe.

Question accordingly agreed to.

Ordered, That the matter of the complaint be referred to the Committee of Privileges.

Mr. Tapsell

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. At what point in the proceedings will you require those hon. Members who are members of the Social Demo- cratic Alliance, in whose name this document was presumably published, to withdraw from the Chamber?

Mr. Speaker

That rule applies only to Members of this honourable House.

Mr. Neville Sandelson (Hayes and Harlington)

There are not any.