§ Dr. John Cunningham (Copeland)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I raise a point of order in the interests of the House of Commons. It is about the Government's position and the fact that they suffered a major defeat in another place yesterday. The Government have not yet made their intentions clear to the House——
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. There is nothing that I can deal with on a point of order. The hon. Member would be wise to wait and see what may happen later this morning.
§ Dr. CunninghamFurther to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. I apologise for rising again, but I had not finished what I was trying to say. I seek your guidance on the matter. There is a strong feeling, which is probably shared by Conservative Back Benchers as well as by the Opposition, that we should know whether the Government intend to make a statement to the House of Commons about their intentions. Statements have been made on radio and television and to the press but not to the House of Commons. It would help the House if we could have a statement about the Government's intentions in this matter.
§ Dr. David Owen (Plymouth, Devonport)Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. Would not normal practice be for the business to be interrupted at 11 o'clock for a ministerial statement? It would be helpful to the House if the Leader of the House would inform us of his intentions.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The House knows that I receive notification of statements until 10 o'clock. We must wait and see what happens.