§ Mr. WinnickOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. During Prime Minister's Question Time reference was made to the Walsall area. The Prime Minister considered it appropriate to launch an attack on the Walsall Labour movement—whose members, incidentally, do not need any lectures from the right hon. Lady or any of her colleagues. They have a difficult enough time in carrying out their duties, bearing in mind the severe Government cuts, as a result of which the housing programme has come virtually to a halt.
§ Mr. SpeakerI am sorry that the hon. Gentleman did not catch my eye after the Prime Minister had referred to his constituency, but there were many hon. Members standing up and I did not see him. Unless the hon. Gentleman has a genuine point of order, I shall let him score his point and register his remark by what he has said already.
§ Mr. WinnickI appreciate your comments, Mr. Speaker. I am sorry that I did not catch your eye, although, obviously, I tried to do so. Is it not the custom in the House that an hon. Member can refute the sort of smear allegations that were made by the Prime Minister against the constituency that he represents?
§ Mr. SpeakerIt is one of the difficulties of life that we cannot always contradict remarks. I say to the hon. Gentleman, as I would say to any other hon. Member, that if an hon. Member's constituency is mentioned I try, as a rule, to call that hon. Member. I wish that I had called the hon. Gentleman, but I think that he has done better by getting in later.