§ Mr. SpeakerSecondly, yesterday the hon. Member for Sheffield, Heeley (Mr. Hooley) raised a point of order relating to one of his constituents who, though not directly identified by the hon. Member, must, I think, clearly be Mr. Maurice Jones, the Editor of theYorkshire Miner. The hon. Member asked about the application of the sub judicerule. I informed the House that other hon. Members had made similar inquiries privately, and I promised to give a ruling today.
The facts are these. Mr. Jones was charged with an offence on 23rd June and released on bail to appear before a court on 8th July. He did not appear to answer to his bail on 8th July and is now abroad and outside the jurisdiction of the court. No day has been fixed for the resumption of the court hearing.
The Resolution of the House of 23rd July 1963 make the operation of thesub judicerule subject always to the discretion of the Speaker. To use this discretion so as to waive thesub judicerule is something which no Speaker would wish to do lightly and without long and careful consideration.
I do not think that it has ever before been done in such a way as to waive the rule completely. However, I am satisfied that in the special circumstances of this case it is proper to waive the rule. I have accordingly given instructions that all Questions and motions temporarily withheld from the Notice Paper should be released to the printers forthwith. Thesub judicerule will not, for the immediate future, govern any other proceedings in the House connected with the charges against Mr. Jones.