HC Deb 16 May 1984 vol 60 cc376-7

Mrs. Angela Rumbold accordingly presented a Bill to prevent local authorities from incurring expenditure on advertising for party political purposes: And the same was read the First time; and ordered to be read a Second time upon Friday 6 July and to be printed. [Bill 176.]

4.31 pm
Mr. Dennis Skinner (Bolsover)

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Now that it has been made apparent, as a result of that vote, that the Government are prepared to spend about £100 on petrol to bring Ministers to the House to vote for a tin-pot Bill that will be killed by the same Government Ministers one Friday—probably the first Friday that it comes up for debate—and since this has been a total waste of time, perhaps you can tell me what assurances you have had from the Secretary of State for Social Services, or any of the other Ministers responsible for social services, that they will perhaps spend more money on petrol and come to the Dispatch Box to talk about starving miners' families—

Mr. Speaker

Order.

Mr. Skinner

—in respect of—

Mr. Speaker

Order.

Mr. Skinner

—help that might be given—

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Gentleman knows that this is a gross abuse of a point of order.

Mr. Skinner

There is gross abuse of starving miners'—

Mr. Speaker

Order. If the hon. Gentleman does not contain himself, I shall have to ask him to leave.