§ Mr. SpeakerI have two brief announcements to make—
§ Mr. Andrew Faulds (Warley, East)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the accusations made a few minutes ago by the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Lewis) that selected Members of the House receive payment from the BBC for pursuing the BBC's interests, it should be made absolutely clear that some of us who pursue BBC matters in questions or who have led occasionally on debates to do with BBC matters have never received and would not receive payments from the BBC. I think the hon. Member should be required to provide further proof of this smear about payments.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewis (Newham, North-West)Further to the point of order, Mr. Speaker. I said, and I repeat, that I would ask the Leader of the House to provide us with an opportunity to get the facts, so that we can know what hon. Members do receive.
§ Mr. FauldsYou made an accusation.
§ Mr. Arthur LewisWhat I said, and will repeat again, is that there are hon. Members getting very large fees for going on the BBC. The right hon. Member for Chelmsford (Mr. St. John Stevas), if he were here, would admit it.
§ Mr. SpeakerI have never found the BBC to be overgenerous to me.
§ Later—
§ Mr. FauldsI am most grateful to you, Mr. Speaker, for your usual charity in letting me catch your eye again. The hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Lewis) has now substantially qualified his earlier accusations, but because of the smear implicit in what he said—that some of us who raise BBC issues in the House are paid for those services—I believe that he should be required either to substantiate those charges or to withdraw them.
§ Mr. SpeakerThat was not my understanding at all of what the hon. Gentleman said, and I listened very carefully. I think that he dealt in general with fees which some hon. Members are fortunate enough to get.[Interruption.] I am most grateful to the hon. Gentleman.