§ Mr. CryerOn a point of Order, Mr. Speaker. Earlier, my hon. Friend the Member for York (Mr. Lyon) asked whether the two statements that had been made today could not have been made together because they were linked. You said that it was not part of our pattern of procedure and that therefore it could not be done. However, these were both important statements. In the past, copies of statements have been available in the Vote Office. For example, when the Secretary of State for Industry made a long and complicated announcement about variations and reductions in regional aid, a copy was placed in the Vote Office.
The Government will not take much notice of the Opposition if they can help it, on procedure or anything else, but it would be of great effect if you, Sir, could use your office to suggest that copies of important statements be placed in the Vote Office. You may have noticed that one of the statements today was simply badly read and the other was gabbled. That makes it difficult for hon. Members to follow the arguments.
Also, great resentment is caused to hon. Members when they see members of the press turning over copies of statements that have been duplicated and circulated to them beforehand but that are not available to us.
§ Mr. SpeakerThis is not the first time that the hon. Member has submitted that point to me and to the House. I realise his strong feeling on the matter. What he has said will have been heard by those responsible for our business.