§ Mr. FauldsOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I have always been opposed to the intrusion of microphones and television cameras into this House because of the effect that they would have on the behaviour of Members—an argument which, I think, has been proved this last couple of days.
But the House having accepted this misjudgment—in my view—my understanding was that the hour to be broadcast would be the hour of Questions. This afternoon I got up in what I thought was blank time, because I thought that the microphones were off, to find that the things—to judge by your comment, Mr. Speaker—were still on. If these things are to be on for points of order following Questions, we shall have even grosser abuses of this new-fangled intervention than we have had before. I shall not make comments about my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Walton (Mr. Heffer) getting in on my Early-Day Motion.
However, may we have a clear understanding from you, Mr. Speaker, when these things go off and how we are to know that they are off? Is it the hour of Question Time, and that is all, or will it extend into points of order as long as people want to get in on the act?
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Gentleman has raised a very important question. First of all, I should say to him and to the House that the microphones are live as long as we are sitting. Selections out of the contributions made to the House are edited and broadcast in the half-hour at the end of the day and early in the morning, so that anything that is said during our day's labours may well be repeated in a broadcast.
Secondly, let me say that no one is more conscious than I am that there is a danger of points of order that are not points of order being raised in the knowledge that we are on the air. It would not be anything new, and not a new experience for me, to have points of order that are not points of order. But I earnestly hope that it will not be exploited.
§ Mr. FauldsFurther to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. That does not quite 251 answer my point. As far as I understand it, we are going out live for the hour of Questions. [HON. MEMBERS: "No."] We were going out live for the hour of Questions.
§ Mr. SpeakerMay I—I am much obliged to the hon. Gentleman for giving way. He was addressing the House. Perhaps I may say to the hon. Gentleman that Prime Minister's Questions were going out live. Yesterday, understandably enough, Welsh Questions went out live. But I do not believe that every Question Time will automatically be going out live. It is a half-hour summary of the day's proceedings, with the exception of Prime Minister's Questions.
§ Mr. FauldsFurther to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. When you reprimanded me—if I may use such a gross exaggeration to describe your kindness to me—my understanding was that what I was then trying to say was going out live. Am I right in that supposition? Was it still live after Prime Minister's Question Time, or had it finished with Prime Minister's Question Time?
§ Mr. SpeakerObviously there is a misunderstanding between us. What I sought to indicate to the hon. Gentleman was that it could be broadcast tonight because the microphones are live and active as long as we are here.
§ Mr. FauldsYou were, Mr. Speaker, unusually inaccurate.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder.
§ Mr. FauldsUnusually.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I accept that from the hon. Gentleman, whose heart is better than his voice.
§ Mr. HefferFurther to the point of order, Mr. Speaker. I am most sorry to have to raise this matter, but my hon. Friend the Member for Warley, East (Mr. Faulds) referred to me and I feel it absolutely essential to point out to my hon. Friend that I come into this Chamber for practically every Question Time, whether or not we are on radio, and it is not a unique experience, as you, Mr. Speaker, will know, as will previous Speakers, for me to raise a matter on a point of order if I feel that the orders or procedure of the House are not actually 252 being adhered to or that there is an abuse of the procedures of the House. I make the point only because my hon. Friend would understand these matters better, perhaps, if he came here more often and put in more time in the Chamber, as some of us do.
§ Mr. SpeakerIt is not for me to comment on the latter part—
§ Mr. Fauldsrose—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder.
§ Mr. FauldsNo, Mr. Speaker—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I hope that the hon. Gentleman will not pursue the matter.
§ Mr. FauldsThat was cheap and snide. Typical.
§ Mr. HefferDamned cheek!
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder.
§ Mr. FauldsThe man proves himself every time he opens his mouth. Snide.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder.
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