§
Ordered,
That, at this day's sitting, the Commonwealth Development Corporation Bill [Lords], the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Bill [Lords] and the Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Bill [Lords] may be proceeded with, though opposed, until any hour.—[Mr. Snape.]
§ Mr. Ian Mikardo (Bethnal Green and Bow)On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I understand that at an earlier stage in the debate the hon. Member for Aldershot (Mr. Critchley)—I call him that conventionally—made a personal reference to me which not only disputed my views, which he has every right to do, but impugned my motives in putting them forward.
§ Mr. MikardoThe hon. Member gave me no notice that he intended to refer to me in this way, which is contrary to all the traditions of the House. I am not in the least concerned with his reference to me because it is well known that an elephant does not worry about the attack of a mouse. The criticisms of such a light man are not to be worried about. I wonder whether, out of your long experience 161 of the traditions of the House, Mr. Deputy Speaker, you would be kind enough to advise the hon. Gentleman of the normal courtesies of the House which demand that on such an occasion some notice should be given to the hon. Member to whom reference is to be made.
§ Mr. Deputy Speaker (Mr. Oscar Murton)I am sure that the hon. Member for Bethnal Green and Bow (Mr. Mikardo) has made his point. I heard the debate and I did not consider that there was any matter which was out of order.