Evidence to Select Committee (Mr. Speaker's Ruling)

HC Deb 21 December 1982 vol 34 c834

4.3 pm

Mr. Speaker

On 8 December, the hon. Member for Birmingham, Stechford (Mr. Davis) drew my attention to a judgment given that day in the Queen's Bench Division in the matter of a suit of libel by Thomas William Pond against Michael Hugh Litchfield and Susan Joy Kentish. One of the effects of this judgment, in the hon. Member's view, was to make it clear that the two defendants had lied when giving evidence before the Select Committee on the Abortion (Amendment) Bill in July 1975.

I am satisfied that this is a matter to which I ought to allow precedence, and the hon. Member is accordingly at liberty to table a motion for debate at the commencement of public business tomorrow.