§ Mr. D. N. Campbell-Savours (Workington)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. This is not a spurious point of order. I seek to raise something which I do not understand and about which you, Mr. Speaker, may be able to help the House in its deliberations.
Last Friday, there was an article in The Guardian about a statement made by the press secretary to the Prime Minister in Downing street, Mr. Bernard Ingham. He referred to a report, which had been handed to Ministers, about "neutralising" the opposition within the Government party to the proposals on the rate capping. Bill.
I understand that it is the right of Ministers and the Secretary of State for the Environment to lobby and impress upon their hon. Friends the need for them to support the Government, but the article referred, interestingly, to the action being approved by a Civil Service committee. That committee consists of civil servants, and I cannot understand on what basis civil servants can take, on behalf of the Government, strategic political decisions that affect elected representatives in the House. I wonder whether you, as Speaker, wishing to defend our rights, might be willing to give the matter some consideration during the next few days.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Gentleman is quite right. I am here to look after the rights of Back-Bench Members, but I know nothing about this article. It is not a matter for me. The Leader of the House is here and will have listened to the hon. Gentleman's remarks.
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