§ Mr. Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. This is a House of Commons point, not a party point. During Prime Minister's Question Time the Prime Minister used the words "in due course" four times. Why cannot "in due course" be tomorrow morning between 10.15 am and 11 am during an Adjournment debate? Why should some hapless junior Minister be sent along to defend the Cabinet Secretary and Mr. Ingham? Is there not a unique case for the Prime Minister herself to come to the House and not to let the matter fester? Surely she should come to the House and answer the questions which have been properly put.
§ Mr. SpeakerWhoever speaks for the Front Bench on either side is not a matter for the Chair.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. There are three statements and business questions this afternoon, followed by private 597 Members' debates. I shall take another point of order, although if it is on the same point it is a matter not of order but of argument.
§ Mr. Peter Snape (West Bromwich, East)I am seeking not to argue with you, Mr. Speaker, but to raise a point of order. Only the Chair can answer the point of order. Surely it is unfair if, after promising to co-operate with the inquiry, the Prime Minister forbids civil servants to give evidence to it, and if a junior Minister is asked to shuffle off excuses and to take the blame for what the Prime Minister said — [Interruption.] The democrats on the Government Benches want the issue to be quietened down, but they will not quieten me in a hurry. There has been an attempt at a cover up. We have nowhere else to go but to you, Mr. Speaker, to ask that the matter be debated properly. The right place for that debate is in the House, and the right time is tomorrow morning.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I cannot help. Hon. Members know that who speaks from the Front Bench is not a matter for me. By great good fortune, the hon. Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell) drew a place in the ballot for the Adjournment debates tomorrow. The whole House will be interested to hear him, and some hon. Members might even be able to take part in the debate.
§ Mr. Max Madden (Bradford, West)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.
§ Mr. SpeakerDoes it arise out of questions?
§ Mr. MaddenYes, Mr. Speaker.
§ Mr. SpeakerI shall take no further points of order on the matter raised by the hon. Member for Linlithgow.
§ Mr. MaddenThis is a matter that could directly affect you, Mr. Speaker, and all other Members of Parliament during the recess. I have received information today that immigration officers at Heathrow are balloting to take action as from August bank holiday, the effect of which would be to bring Heathrow to a standstill. Thousands upon thousands of people arriving in this country would be subjected to very long delays in order to receive permission to enter the country. The immigration officers are balloting because of their anger and exasperation at the conditions in which they are working, which is a direct result of understaffing.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The hon. Gentleman can best raise that matter on the motion for the summer Adjournment. If what he says is correct, clearly we should not adjourn tomorrow and, indeed, should sit until this matter has been resolved.