§ Mr. D. N. Campbell-Savours (Workington)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. You may know that today at 5 minutes past 12 the news bulletins announced that the Government had taken a sound thrashing in the Irish courts on their application for an injunction to prevent the publication of the book "One Girl's War" by Joan Miller—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I do not know what happened—
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursIt is absolutely genuine.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Allow me to say that I do not know what goes on at 5 minutes past 12 because notice of intention to raise these matters must be given to me before 12 o'clock.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursIt is precisely on that matter that I rise to my feet, Mr. Speaker. If the news had been known before 12 o'clock, I should have been able to apply to you to give due notice of my intention to make a Standing Order No. 20 application.
In the light of the decision by the Irish courts, my application would have been made with a view to seeking a statement from the Government on why, having lost in those courts, they should carry on with the proceedings in Australia. In view of the fact that the announcement was made after 12 o'clock, I should like to know whether you accept that I have a right to make that Standing Order No. 20 application tomorrow so that we can hear of the matter then.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Member knows the rules even better than I do.