§ Mr. Mike ThomasOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I am happy to wait until the end of any queue to receive your guidance. During successive Governments this House has established and financed—through the estimates of the Office of Manpower Economics—a deliberately independent Review Body on Top Salaries. That body is chaired by Lord Boyle. It is currently looking at the request of the Leader of the House and of the Prime Minister—in pursuit of a clear commitment given to the House—for the appropriate updating of hon. Members' salaries for the past year. I should like you, Mr. Speaker, to consider the issue and to report to the House. I am not at all clear whether this is an issue of order or of privilege. Is it proper for attempts to be made to influence Lord Boyle to pursue that remit—which he was asked to do independently—in a way that 819 may suit the chairman of the Conservative Party or some other figures? Should he not discharge his responsibilities and commitment to the House in an independent way?
§ Mr. SpeakerIf the hon. Gentleman will be good enough to write to me giving the details I shall consider whether privilege is involved. I cannot rule on the information that I have just been given.