§ Mr. FootOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker; I apologise for not having given you notice of it. It is on a matter of which I have learnt only in the last minute or two. I felt that it was necessary to raise it at this stage. It arises partly from our new procedures, with the possibility of announcements at 11 am. I apologise also to the Leader of the House for not having had the chance to inform him about it.
I understand that there are problems arising on the Committee dealing with the Transport Bill and about the procedures in operation there. I make no comment about them at the moment, but we wish to inquire about them in the next hour that is available to us.
I wish to ask you, Mr. Speaker, how the new procedure for the interruption of business would operate at 11 am. I presume that if the Leader of the House wished to make a statement about the Transport Bill—there having been the opportunity to have discussions in the meantime—it would be perfectly possible for him to do so at 11 am, if he so decided. We would then be able to put questions to him in the light of any statement that he might make. I am not sure yet whether he would find it necessary to make such a statement.
I raise the point of order as we have not operated this procedure before and in order to safeguard the position. I should be grateful if we could have your ruling. Mr. Speaker, on how we might proceed.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe new circumstances in which we meet on Fridays ensure, first, that if there is notice of any private notice questions I let my decision be 926 known at 10 am. It is then stated on the notice boards that there is to be a private notice question at 11 am. Secondly, if there is a statement to be made, a notice to that effect will appear on the indicator at verious times between 10 am and 11 am.