HC Deb 06 May 1982 vol 23 c283
Mr. Tam Dalyell (West Lothian)

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the elliptical reply—[Interruption]—given yesterday by the Foreign Secretary to the hon. Member for Havant and Waterloo (Mr. Lloyd)—[Interruption]—on attacking the South American mainland——

Mr. Speaker

Order. I cannot hear the hon. Gentleman, but I hope that he is raising a point of order and not putting an argument about a Minister's reply. As he knows, I cannot rule on that.

Mr. Dalyell

It is a point of order in the sense that my hon. Friend the Member for Tooting (Mr. Cox)—[Interruption]—asked a direct question today about a pre-emptive or retaliatory attack on the mainland. Cannot he receive an answer to that important question?

Mr. Speaker

Order. That is clearly not something on which I can rule.

Mr. Andrew Faulds (Warley, East)

Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker

Order. I shall call the hon. Member for Warley, East (Mr. Faulds) in a moment, but the hon. Member for West Lothian (Mr. Dalyell) did not raise a point of order.

Mr. Faulds

On a new point of order, Mr. Speaker. Since it is quite likely, and appallingly likely, that this lunatic military venture will lead to more bloody deaths this weekend, would it not be in order—I am serious in making this point of order—to extend Prime Minister's Question Time so that we can discuss the implications of her adventure in the South Atlantic?

Mr. Speaker

As the hon. Gentleman and the House know, it is not for me to decide how long Prime Minister's Question Time should run. It usually lasts for a quarter of an hour.