Bolsover District Council (Hansard, 30 March 1983)

§ Mr. Dennis Skinner (Bolsover)
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. My point of order relates to a statement by the Minister for Housing and Construction last Wednesday at Question Time when, as reported in c. 853 of the Official Report, he referred to Bolsover district council having spent only 43 per cent. of its HIP allocation in this financial year. The Bolsover housing committee met today, about which I informed the Minister by telephone, and, contrary to the Minister's extremely misleading statement, which I am sure he will want to correct—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. The hon. Gentleman's dispute with the Minister is not a point of order that I can settle. I can rule only when our Standing Orders, conventions and rules are upset. If the hon. Gentleman, who is not without ingenuity, can find a point of order on which I can rule, I shall in a spirit of goodwill, listen to him, but I am a little doubtful.

§ Mr. Skinner
I was coming to the point, Mr. Speaker.
In view of my telephone call to the Minister's office several hours ago, has he said that he will be making a statement to correct this matter, as the Bolsover district council has spent not only all the Tory Government's allocation but on 6 December applied for more, and received another £.1.2 million—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I have been very good to the hon. Gentleman. I allowed him to make his main point before I ruled that it was not a point of order.

§ Mr. Skinner
rose—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. That is not a matter for me.