HC Deb 29 January 1981 vol 997 c1090

Members successful in the ballot were:

Several Hon. Members

rose—

Mr. Speaker

Order. I am not taking points of order on the matter with which I have already dealt. If they concern something different I shall take them.

Mr. Winnick

It is for you, Mr. Speaker, to decide which points of order you take and which you do not. That is your right. I trust that we have the right, as hon. Members, to raise what we consider to be an important issue. If, therefore, Mr. Speaker, you wish to say, in effect, that what I am saying is not a point of order, you must do so.

My point of order is this: I thought that we hon. Members had the right to put our points of view. However, if by putting our points of view we can be subject to intimidation by a Minister, who will say, in effect, that because of—

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Gentleman is quite clearly trying to keep alive an issue with which I have already dealt.

Mr. Cryer

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker—

Mr. Speaker

Order. I shall regard it as a gross discourtesy to the Chair if anybody persists in raising the question upon which I have already ruled. I warn the hon. Member for Keighley (Mr. Cryer) that I shall regard it as such.

Mr. Cryer

This is an important issue, Mr. Speaker, and it is different from the one upon which you have already ruled. You may recall that I was a Minister at the Department of Industry. The legislation under which grants are made to the assisted areas is the Industry Act 1972, modified by the 1975 Act. That legislation does not allow a Minister any discretion. I would have thought that if the Minister announced publicly that he was going to use his discretion in a way that was against the law, that would be an occurrence that you should prevent, Mr. Speaker.

Several Hon. Members

rose—

Mr. Speaker

Order. I have not heard such a statement.