§ Mr. SpeakerStatement, Chancellor of the Exchequer.
§ Mr. David Steel (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker—
§ Mr. SpeakerDoes the right hon. Gentleman's point of order arise directly from Prime Minister's Questions?
§ Mr. SteelMy point of order arises directly from one of the Prime Minister's replies. You will have heard the Prime Minister say, Mr. Speaker, that she wished to reflect on the judgment in the Court of Session this morning. May we take it that, because of that reflection, the Treasury press notice on the tapes announcing an appeal is incorrect?
§ Mr. SpeakerThat is not a matter for me. We move on to the Chancellor of the Exchequer's statement.
§ Mr. Martin Flannery (Sheffield, Hillsborough)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.
§ Mr. SpeakerI think that the hon. Gentleman's point of order does not arise from Prime Minister's Questions.
§ Mr. FlanneryIt does.
§ Mr. SpeakerIf it does, I shall take it.
§ Mr. FlanneryMy point of order arises from Question Time a fortnight ago, Mr. Speaker—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. That is a good try, but that is not what I meant.
§ Mr. Jim Craigen (Glasgow, Maryhill)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In one of her replies today, the Prime Minister said that a Minister would be making a statement on the Trustee Savings Bank—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. This is an extension of Question Time.
§ Mr. CraigenIt is not.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. We cannot have an extension of Question Time. The House does not want that and we have a busy day ahead of us. It is not a matter for me in any event.
§ Mr. Charles Kennedy (Ross, Cromarty and Skye)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In reply to my question the Prime Minister said clearly that the Government were reflecting on the judgment of the Court of Session. My right hon. Friend the Member for Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale (Mr. Steel) has made—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder.
§ Mr. Kennedyrose—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The hon. Gentleman has said that the Prime Minister or the Government are reflecting. He did not say that I was reflecting. The hon. Gentleman must raise a point of order that I can answer.
§ Mr. Kennedyrose—
§ Mr. Dennis Skinner (Bolsover)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.
§ Mr. SpeakerIf the hon. Gentleman's point of order arises directly from Questions today, I shall take it.
§ Mr. SkinnerThe issue is quite simple for you, Mr. Speaker. If the Prime Minister has misled the House, is there not an obligation upon you, Mr. Speaker, to ensure that the right hon. Lady has an opportunity to put the facts straight?
§ Mr. SpeakerI cannot accept that the Prime Minister has misled the House.