§ Mr. FauldsOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Far be it from me to leap to the defence of the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner), but during his supplementary question to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence four of our colleagues tripped or scurried into the Chamber. I recall that there used to be a tradition that when hon. Members were asking questions or when Ministers were answering them, other hon. Members did not break their line of contact, visual or verbal. Can you occasionally draw that requirement to the notice of the House?
§ Mr. SpeakerI have noticed that the hon. Member for Warley, East (Mr. Faulds) strictly observes this rule himself and it is one of the long-established courtesies of this House that no one intervenes between an hon. Member who is speaking and the occupant of the Chair.
§ Mr. Arthur LewisFurther to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. Perhaps I misheard you or perhaps you unintentionally gave the wrong ruling. Surely the custom is that one does not pass between the person who has the Floor and Mr. Speaker or the person in the Chair. If that is what you said, I am happy to let the matter pass.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I could not wish for confirmation from a better source.