HC Deb 31 January 1978 vol 943 cc245-6
Mr. Speaker

Yesterday, the hon. Member for Preston, South (Mr. Thorne) raised a complaint of privilege concerning what he alleged to be false evidence given before the Select Committee on Abortion in 1975. In accordance with recent practice, I undertook to consider the matter and to give my ruling today.

I have now had time to consider the hon. Member's statement and the circumstances that led him to raise the matter when he did. It is not my duty to rule upon the merits of complaints of privilege, but only to decide whether or not they should have precedence over the other business of the House.

Although I am satisfied that the hon. Member has raised a very serious matter, the facts have been known since at least 18th January 1978. I have, therefore, no authority to accord priority in this case.

Later—

Mrs. Renée Short

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. May I revert to your ruling on the question of privilege raised by my hon. Friend the Member for Preston, South (Mr. Thorne). I have no wish to challenge your decision, but it is surely without precedent, at least since I came into the House, that we have evidence of deliberately misleading information being given to a Select Committee. Can you say what remedies the House has for dealing with this pair of self-confessed liars?

Mr. Speaker

The House knows that I am bound by the Standing Orders and rules of the House. This matter was not raised at the time it should have been raised. I am the guardian of the rights of the House and I can perform that duty only if I maintain the Standing Orders.

Later—

Mr. Flannery

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. May I ask for your guidance on the matter raised by my hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Short)? When such a violation of privilege has occurred but has not been raised with you in time, what avenues are open to us to take steps against people who have deliberately lied to a Select Committee of the House? Although we may not have raised the matter at the time we should have raised it, the crime still exists. What should we do?

Mr. Speaker

This is a very old complaint. A statement was made in open court on 18th January. The hon. Gentleman knows as well as I do that there are many ways of pursuing this matter that are open to any hon. Member. I cannot give it precedence.