§ 4.9 pm
§ Mrs. Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. As you know, an exhibition has been taking place this week in the Upper Waiting Hall and it has been organised by the Family Heart Association. It has been providing a useful service checking Members' cholesterol levels, some of which have worried some hon. Members. I am sure that you will agree that, while that proves the point, made several times in the House, that there ought to be more frequent mobile screening of this kind available in the House, not only for Members but for others who work in the House, the results obtained ought to be confidential medical information.
I have some evidence that a Lobby correspondent has been compiling a list of Members' cholesterol levels. I do not know what he intends to do with that list but it is a serious matter, particularly as Lobby correspondents are able to move freely about the House. That Lobby correspondents should be standing by the screen and checking Members' cholestoral levels as an hon. Member is sitting in a chair waiting for the result is extremely undesirable. Will you inquire into this matter Mr. Speaker?
The Lobby correspondent concerned is a Mr. Mike Steele and I saw him with a list. The hon. Member for Leicestershire, North-West (Mr. Ashby) spoke to him yesterday about the list and asked him what use he meant to make of it. That kind of information ought to be private to hon. Members and ought not to be used now or in the future by Lobby correspondents. There is a possibility that the information has already been used, but I ask you to inquire into this matter and to report to the House.
§ Mr. SpeakerI thank the hon. Lady for raising that matter. I shall certainly look into it.