Order, hon members! Order! Order! Shortly thereafter, on the same day, the hon Minister of Science and Technology asked whether interjections such as "rubbish" and "nonsense" qualified as unbecoming language in terms of Rule 63, and were therefore unparliamentary. I ruled at the time that they were unbecoming and appealed to hon members to respect the Rules of the House, also with regard to language.
I then asked the hon Ellis whether he wanted to withdraw his interjections of "rubbish". He declined, and said he did not think there was reason to withdraw them, considering the manner in which they had been said. I responded that I would look at the Hansard and return with a ruling.
Interjections are very seldom reported verbatim in Hansard. In most cases they are merely indicated by the word "Interjections" in square brackets. Such interjections are an integral part of lively debates in the House and the Chair does not involve itself in the verbal sparring between members, unless the interjections are disruptive to the actual debate or its tone in the sense that they have the potential to be disruptive.
In the case in question, the interjections "Rubbish" and "nonsense" were not recorded by Hansard, and appear to have been thrown about in jest between members on opposite sides of the House. Though I want to appeal to the hon Ellis to be circumspect about the use of "rubbish" and "nonsense", it would appear on that day that they were part of a robust and friendly exchange. Thank you. [Applause.]