§ Mr. Alfred Dubs (Battersea)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I know that you place great emphasis on protecting hon. Members on both sides of the House from the Executive, and that you are less than enthusiastic about the Government's use of procedures that have the effect of devaluing the House. Today, the Government have been at it again. The Home Secretary has shown his contempt for the House by using a written answer to make 203 a major statement on police resources and numbers—a statement at variance with the policy expressed only last year by the Prime Minister. The House has a right to question the Home Secretary on such major statements.
The Government keep acting in this fashion. What they have done today is significant. I appreciate that, technically, the Government can argue that there is a Standing Order that allows them to do it, but the effect of the Government's actions is to bring the House into contempt, to devalue it and to make your task, Mr. Speaker, more difficult. Will you stop the Government acting like this and make them face the House on major statements of policy?
§ Mr. SpeakerQuestion 105 was a written question on today's Order Paper and it was answered. This is frequently done, and it is not a matter of order for me.