Questions to Ministers (Hansard, 12 November 1985)

§ Mr. Speaker
Statement, Chancellor of the Exchequer.

§ Mr. David Steel (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale)
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker—

§ Mr. Speaker
Does the right hon. Gentleman's point of order arise directly from Prime Minister's Questions?

§ Mr. Steel
My 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. Speaker
That is not a matter for me. We move on to the Chancellor of the Exchequer's statement.

§ The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr. Nigel Lawson)
rose—

§ Mr. Martin Flannery (Sheffield, Hillsborough)
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.

§ Mr. Speaker
I think that the hon. Gentleman's point of order does not arise from Prime Minister's Questions.

§ Mr. Flannery
It does.

§ Mr. Speaker
If it does, I shall take it.

§ Mr. Flannery
My point of order arises from Question Time a fortnight ago, Mr. Speaker—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. 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. Speaker
Order. This is an extension of Question Time.

§ Mr. Craigen
It is not.

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. 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. Speaker
Order.

§ Mr. Kennedy
rose—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. 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. Kennedy
rose—

§ Mr. Dennis Skinner (Bolsover)
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.

§ Mr. Speaker
If the hon. Gentleman's point of order arises directly from Questions today, I shall take it.

§ Mr. Skinner
The 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. Speaker
I cannot accept that the Prime Minister has misled the House.