§ Mr. Arthur Lewis (Newham, North-West)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I am sorry that I have not had the opportunity of giving you notice of the question, but you will be aware that we have always had an understanding in both Houses that we do not attack Members of either House in a disparaging way.
Knowing that you, Mr. Speaker, like many hon. Members—not myself—are a teetotaller, I think that you might be a little offended to know that a former Member of this House, now in another place, has made a slighting, wounding attack upon a number of right hon. and hon. Members who are teetotallers. He has tried to assert that there is almost perpetual drunkeness in one Bar. The former Member to whom I refer is Eric Lubbock, now Lord Avebury. When he was called to order he corrected himself and included the other House as well.
You and I know, Mr. Speaker, that a few Members have a drink occasionally, but no one is ever drunk in this place, because that is against the rules. We know that you are a life-long total abstainer and you would never allow us to break the rules. It was wrong for the Member of another place to say what he did, when we all know that what he said is not true.
§ Mr. SpeakerI quite understand that the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Lewis) did not have the opportunity to inform me that he would raise his point of order. We do our best in both Houses to observe the courtesies about each other and to each other.
I believe that the remarks, which I read with some interest, were made by a Member of another place, but were not made in another place but outside. In this country all sorts of things are said that we do not like. The hon. Gentleman knows that I am not inviting him to do it, but a question of privilege may be raised with me in private. It would be an exceedingly delicate matter. The hon. Gentleman is quite correct, in that all my predecessors have ruled that no right hon. or hon. Member is ever too much under the influence of drink.
§ Mr. LewisIn view of your last sentence, Mr. Speaker, I thank you and say that you have well made the point.