§ Mr. Robert Hughes (Aberdeen, North)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I want to draw your attention to Hansard of 20 January, c. 497, covering exchanges between the Secretary of State for Transport on the Serpell committee report and the hon. Member for Moray and Nairm (Mr. Pollock), who asked for an assurance about the Aberdeen-Inverness line. I shall quote simply one sentence from the reply of the Secretary of State for Transport as recorded in Hansard:
I cannot stand here, and I have never sought to do so, and guarantee the future of the entire system for all time."—[Official Report, 20 January 1983; Vol. 35, c. 497.]It is clear within my memory, and indeed from the press reports in almost every Scottish newspaper the following day, that the words used by the Secretary of State were that he could not guarantee every branch line. This is a matter of considerable importance as to the meaning which the Secretary of State attached to his answer. I understand that there is no dispute about the words used being incorrect in Hansard, but I should be obliged if you would ensure that the record is changed and make it clear that it was simply a mistake by the Hansard reporter.
§ Mr. SpeakerI am much obliged to the hon. Gentleman for giving me notice of his point of order, which has enabled me to make some inquiries. What he has said is correct. The necessary correction will be made in the Bound Volume. It was due simply to human error.