HC Deb 16 December 1985 vol 89 cc47-8 5·14 pm
Mr. D. N. Campbell-Savours (Workington)

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. The matter that I wish to raise is not a matter of Members' interests, although it may at first seem to be so. It relates to the rights of Members to table questions. As a member of the Public Accounts Committee, I have an interest in defence contracts, and particularly in excess profits by defence contractors. Accordingly, I attempted to table a series of questions this morning. One of them was—

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Gentleman knows that if he goes to the Table Office and seeks advice it is not in order for him to raise in the Chamber with me the questions that he raised there.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

As I understand it, Mr. Speaker—I have also taken advice on this—you have ultimate responsibility for the decisions of the Table Office.

Mr. Speaker

I do not answer for these matters in the Chamber. If the hon. Gentleman wishes to raise matters of this kind with me, he should do so in the normal way. I was not present at the discussions and I cannot possibly say what went on. As the hon. Gentleman has raised the matter, I can tell him that I now know that he spent some time in the Table Office this morning discussing whether he could put down certain questions, but that is all that I know.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

There are many precedents in the House of Members coming to the Chamber to press the case for questions which they were refused the right to table, by the Table Office. I wish to ask you, Mr. Speaker, to consider the implications of certain questions that I was not allowed to table. My point of order is not long. I wonder whether you might care—

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Gentleman is becoming increasingly expert in procedural matters. He should know that the matter that he raises is firmly pointed to in "Erskine May" as follows: When a question has been refused and the Member concerned wishes to make representations to the Speaker on the matter, the practice is for these to be made privately to the Speaker and not raised by way of a point of order in the House.