§ Mr. Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow)On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Earlier in the evening, I twice raised the need for a Government statement. The facts as given in the past 10 minutes by Cruise Watch are that in the air there are 52 F-111s out of Mildenhall, 48 F- Ills out of Upper Heyford, 72 tank busters from RAF Bentwaters and the bulk of the American tanker fleet from Fairford. If we are to believe that this is simply Exercise Elderforest it seems at best to be insensitive to a mindboggling degree. There should at least be a statement to the people in the vicinity of those are bases on what is happening. Will there be a reconsideration, even at this late hour, and will a Minister give the House a few explanations about the facts?
§ Mr. Deputy Speaker (Mr. Ernest Armstrong)The hon. Member knows that Ministers' statements to the House are not a matter for me.
§ Mr. Roland Boyes (Houghton and Washington)Further to the point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker.
§ Mr. Deputy SpeakerOrder. Is the hon. Member raising a different point of order?
§ Mr. BoyesSurely, we should consider the consequences last week, when a member of the Opposition Front Bench tabled a private notice question and asked for a statement, which Mr. Speaker in his wisdom turned down. I do not criticise Mr. Speaker, but we know what happened that day when the House was not informed about the F-111s being in the air. Exactly the same situation is occurring. Action has been threatened by the President of the United States—
§ Mr. Deputy SpeakerOrder. The hon. Member knows that, however serious the issues, a Government statement is not a matter for me. I have not been told that a statement will be made.
§ Mr. Jeremy Corbyn (Islington, North)Further to the point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker.
§ Mr. Deputy SpeakerOrder. One cannot raise a point of order further to bogus points of order.
§ Mr. CorbynFurther to the point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Will you advise us by what means these serious matters can be brought to the attention of the House and of the public?
§ Mr. Deputy SpeakerThose on the Government Front Bench have heard what has been said. It is not a matter for the Chair.