HC Deb 07 June 1972 vol 838 cc451-2
Mr. Biggs-Davison

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Are we not to have a statement—

Mr. Speaker

Order. That is not a matter of order. I must insist that the House obeys the rules. Questions about whether Ministers make statements or not and the nature of their replies are not matters of order under the Standing Orders. The Clerk will now proceed to read the Orders of the Day—

Later—

Mr. Biggs-Davison

Mr. Speaker. I raise a very serious point—

Mr. Speaker

Is this a point of order?

Mr. Biggs-Davison

This is a different point of order on a very serious matter which I believe affects the dignity of the House. I refer to the absence of a statement on the grievous mining disaster at Wankie in Rhodesia, a country for which Ministers claim responsibility. We have to learn from the Daily Express and not from the Treasury bench—

Mr. Speaker

Order. I cannot allow this. It is not a matter for the Chair and I have no power to direct Ministers to make statements and no right to criticise them for failing to do so. It is not a matter for the Chair. The Clerk will now proceed to read the Orders of the Day—

Mr. Fell

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. On a number of occasions in recent months the House has found itself in some difficulty over some matter. On many of these occasions some one on the Government Front Bench has intervened to help the House out of its difficulty. Today we have the situation in which there is no one on the Front Bench who could intervene to help the House—[Interruption.]

Mr. Speaker

Order. The Chair has many responsibilities and many difficulties. Who sits on the Front Bench on either side is not my responsibility. The Clerk will now proceed to read the Orders of the Day—