Selwyn Lloyd – 1975 Comments on the Personal Statement Being Made by John Stonehouse

The comments made by Selwyn Lloyd, the then Speaker of the House of Commons, in the House on 20 October 1975 in advance of the personal statement being made by John Stonehouse.

Before I call upon the right hon. Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Stonehouse) to make a personal statement I want to make one or two matters clear.

Responsibility for the decision to allow the right hon. Member to make a statement is mine. If the House wishes to introduce a new Standing Order dealing with personal statements I am sure that any occupant of the Chair would be grateful. I certainly have not found this an easy matter to decide. The right hon. Gentleman’s affairs and absence have frequently been referred to in the House. A Select Committee was set up and has reported. I am of the opinion that in those circumstances I should allow the right hon. Member to make a statement about his absence.

As to the precise contents of the statement, the task of the Chair in this case has been to ensure that nothing should be said in it concerning matters which are sub judice and that it does not involve attacks upon other Members.

The convention of this House is that a personal statement should be listened to in silence.