Newspaper Vendors (Hansard, 8 April 1981)

39. Mr. Ron Brown
asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland how many people selling newspapers were charged with breach of the peace during 1980.

§ The Solicitor-General for Scotland (Mr. Nicholas Fairbairn)
I regret that the statistics for persons convicted of breach of the peace do not disclose the circumstances of the offence.

Mr. Brown
Is it not the case that the couple commonly known as the "Glasgow Two" were charged and convicted for a breach of the peace? More important, was it not true that before that they were charged under the prevention of terrorism legislation? Why did the Ministers deny that? Why did they lie to us?

§ Mr. Speaker
Order.

Mr. Brown
Is the Minister aware——

§ Mr. Speaker
Order.

Mr. Brown
Why did the Minister deny that?

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. The hon. Gentleman is very fortunate that he is not being named. He has been here long enough to know that when I rise to my feet he should resume his seat. He was being extremely discourteous. The hon. Gentleman came here only at the last election, but he has been here two years——

Mr. Brown
It is still a lie——

Hon. Members
Name him.

§ Mr. Speaker
The hon. Gentleman is inviting me to name him. He——

Mr. Brown
rose——

§ Mr. Speaker
The hon. Gentleman will leave the Chamber for the rest of the day. If he does not, I will name——

Mr. Brown
In natural justice, Mr. Speaker, I would expect you——

§ Mr. Speaker
I name Mr. Ron Brown for gross discourtesy to the Chair. [HON. MEMBERS: "out."] Will the senior Minister present move the motion?

§ Mr. Younger
I beg to move, That Mr. Ron Brown be suspended from the service of the House.

§ Mr. Speaker
The hon. Gentleman will now withdraw from the House.

Mr. Brown
So much for democracy.

§ Mr. Hugh D. Brown
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. It is always a matter of regret when an hon. Member has to be named in the House. I am not trying to suggest, Mr. Speaker, that the decision was wrong. I know the circumstances of the incident referred to by my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, Leith (Mr. Brown) and I am satisfied that the action taken by the police and the Crown Office was totally correct. May I draw your attention, Mr. Speaker, to an inconsistency that I think appeared in the Solicitor-General's reply——

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. We cannot now pursue the answer to the question. The House gave me support when I put the Question, and I had given the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Leith (Mr. Brown) an opportunity to leave the House for one day.

§ Mr. Hugh D. Brown
rose——

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I am not taking any further points of order at this stage.