§ Mr. SpeakerI regret to have to inform the House of the death of the Reverend Robert John Bradford, Member for Belfast, South and I desire, on behalf of the House, to express our sense of the loss we have sustained and our sympathy with the relatives of the hon. Member.
An opportunity will be given, after the statement by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, for those who wish to pay tribute to their colleague so to do.
§ Rev. Ian PaisleyOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. When the late Airey Neave's death was announced in the House, tributes were paid immediately from both Front Benches. There is an announcement in the press today that the Government Front Bench does not intend to pay a tribute in this matter. Surely those of us who represent parties from Northern Ireland should be entitled to this privilege.
§ Mr. SpeakerI am sure that the whole House will understand when I say that every opportunity will be given to those from Northern Ireland and from this side of the water who wish to pay tribute to the late hon. Member after the statement has been made later this afternoon.
§ Later——
§ Mr. SpeakerI should tell the House that I have given further consideration to the point of order raised by the hon. Member for Antrim, North (Rev. Ian Paisley). I propose that we pay our tributes to the late hon. Member for Belfast, South (Mr. Bradford) immediately after questions and before the statements so that they may be separate from the political content or otherwise of the statements themselves.