Speaker rules against any breach of privilege

Press, 3 June 1982, Page 3

Speaker rules against any breach of privilege

The Speaker. Sir Richard Harrison, has ruled against any possible breach of Parliamentary privilege by the Leader of the House (Mr Thomson) over the Falklands dispute. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Rowling) who had alleged that Mr Thomson had committed a prima facie breach by apparently misleading Parliament, said yesterday that he had received the ruling from Sir Richard. No reason was given for rejecting Mr Rowling’s application that an answer given in the House by Mr Thomson be referred to the Privileges Committee. The alleged breach was referred to the Speaker on May 21 after the. Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) said in London that the Government had offered to lend Britain H.M.N.Z.S. Canter-

bury to give the Royal Navy greater freedom to deploy its ships during the Falklands . dispute. It concerned an answer by ; Mr Thomson to a question by the Labour Deputy’ Leader . (Mr Lange) in the House on I May 6. I Mr Lange had asked if a , frigate was to be given “to assist Britain in the Falklands operation." I Mr Thomson answered: “No. At the outset of the ... . crisis, the Government made .it clear that, if asked, New _ , Zealand was ready to help 1 Britain in any way possible. 3 That offer still stands and Britain knows it." Mr Rowling said that he s thought Mr Thomson’s state1 ment in the House was at 2 variance with the earlier 1 caucus decision, which Mr - Rowling said was clearly to 1 "assist Britain in .its Falk- - lands operation."