§ Mr. Michael Cocks (Bristol, South)On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I know that you are not responsible for the answers given by Ministers from the Dispatch Bax, but, perhaps by inadvertency, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has misled the House by his remarks about receiving an apology from those responsible for the television programme which was the subject of an earlier discussion.
The Press Association newswire states:
TV denies Howe apology.Thames Television today denied that they had apologised to the Foreign Secretary Sir Geoffrey Howe over questions put to him over the GCHQ union row on the TV Eye programme last night. 'We have neither been asked for, nor have offered an apology', a spokeman said.In view of that, Mr. Deputy Speaker, would you afford the earliest opportunity next week for the right hon. and learned Gentleman to clarify the matter? We shall, of course, be pursuing it through the usual channels.
Mr. Deputy SpeakerThe House will recognise that this is not a matter for me, but doubtless the right hon. Gentleman's comments will have been heard.
§ Mr. Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon)Further to that point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I was present during, and participated in, the questioning of the Foreign Secretary this morning. All in the House at that time will recollect that in the defence that he put forward the right hon. and learned Gentleman rested heavily on the supposed apology. You have the responsibility of defending the House against its being misled, especially by Ministers of the Crown. Either Thames Television is telling lies, or lies are being told by other people. In those circumstances—
Mr. Deputy SpeakerOrder. I do not think that I can usefully or sensibly add to what I have already said on this matter.
§ Mr. Ian Wrigglesworth (Stockton, South)Further to that point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I believe that the information referred to by the right hon. Member for Bristol, South (Mr. Cocks) has been available for two hours. Has any approach been made to you by the Foreign Secretary either about coming to the House to rectify the statement which he apparently erroneously made earlier, or to announce his resignation?
Mr. Deputy SpeakerNo representations have been made to the Chair. As I said earlier, doubtless the comments of right hon. and hon. Members will have been heard.
§ Mr. Don Dixon (Jarrow)Further to that point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. When the Foreign Secretary returns to the House to make another statement, will it be possible to have a polygraph nearby?
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Ray Whitney)Further to that point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I have nothing to add at this stage to the statement made by my right and learned Friend. I shall, of course, bring to his attention the points made by Opposition Members.
§ Mr. John McWilliam (Blaydon)Further to that point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I had occasion to check the Hansard proof of my intervention during questions to the 577 Foreign Secretary. I can confirm that on the same page of that proof the Foreign Secretary repeated the suggestion that he had received an apology from those concerned in the television programme. An early statement, possibly on Monday, might be to the benefit en the House.
Mr. Deputy SpeakerThe House will have heard what the Under-Secretary of State said. Perhaps we may now proceed to deal with the remaining business.
§ Mr. Greville Janner (Leicester, West)On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. As one of the Ministers in the Department is present and would no doubt be able at least to say whether an approach was made by the Foreign Secretary to the Thames Television people, can he not take this opportunity to apologise to the House, should he so wish?
Mr. Deputy SpeakerOrder. In the light of what has been said, I do not think that we can carry the matter further at this point. The views that have been expressed will have been heard and will no doubt be communicated to the Foreign Secretary.
§ Mr. Harry Greenway (Ealing, North)On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I distinctly heard the hon. Member for Blaydon (Mr. McWilliam) say that upstairs he had seen the comments of another right hon. Member.
§ Mr. McWilliamInadvertently.
§ Mr. GreenwayInadvertently. In that case, I shall not pursue the point. Will you confirm, Mr. Deputy Speaker, than an hon. Member, of whatever party, is not allowed, before publication, to see the comments of another hon. Member?
§ Mr. McWilliamFurther to that point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. The comments that I saw were on the same page of the proof. As the hon. Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Greenway) knows, one is presented with a piece of paper, and blinkers do not operate on my glasses.