§ Mr. Ray Powell (Ogmore)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I wish to seek your ruling and guidance on the procedures and actions of Members of Select Committees.
Yesterday morning, the Select Committee on Welsh Affairs met to consider a draft report on water in Wales, a subject that it has been considering for the past 12 months. Part of the draft report criticised the actions and the attitudes of the Secretary of State for Wales and the Welsh Office. We discussed a proposal to postpone publication of this document. There appeared to be nothing sinister in anyone's attitudes or motives to accept the proposal. The only objection was raised by the Chairman who had hoped for progress—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The hon. Gentleman cannot complain about the Chairman of a Select Committee or the conduct of the Select Committee unless he places a motion on the Order Paper. It is not a point of order for me.
§ Mr. PowellI am not criticising the Chairman of the Select Committee in any way. I am seeking your ruling, Mr. Speaker, on the actions that were taken subsequent to the decision of the Select Committee.
§ Mr. SpeakerI am unable to rule on anything to do with a Committee that has not reported to the House. Until it has done so, the Committee is in charge of its own affairs. The hon. Gentleman should raise the point within the Select Committee. I am not an appeal court against what is going on in a Select Committee.