Ministerial Statements (Hansard, 9 February 1987)

§ Mr. Ron Davies (Caerphilly)
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. This afternoon during Welsh Question Time I asked the Secretary of State for Wales a supplementary question about weekend press reports that the Government intend to relax control over agricultural land. The issue received wide publicity at the weekend and in this morning's press. The reports indicate clearly that the Government intend to release agricultural land for housing and afforestation. You will recall, Mr. Speaker, that the Secretary of State, in his reply to me, refused to answer my question on the ground that his right hon. Friend—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. This matter was raised last Thursday as a continuation of Question Time. I heard what the Secretary of State for Wales said, and I read what was said in the newspapers. It is not a matter for me. It is a matter not of order, but of argument.

§ Mr. Ron Davies
I think, Mr. Speaker, that I have a valid point of order. The Secretary of State for Wales refused to answer my question on the ground that his right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food was to reply to a parliamentary question. The Minister is in his place today.
My point of order is that the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has arranged a press conference for 4 o'clock today. He has also arranged a planted written question to leak details of the Government's proposals. Would it not be more appropriate for you to make this facility available for the Minister to come to the House today to make his views known?

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. These are patently not matters for me. Questions to the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food will be taken on 19 February, when these matters can be raised.

§ Mr. Brynmor John (Pontypridd)
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.

§ Mr. Speaker
It must be a point of order and it must be related directly to my responsibilities.

§ Mr. John
It is inconceivable that so important a matter as a new Government land use policy should be slipped through by means of a written answer, with a press conference hearing of it before any hon. Member of this House has been provided with the information. Has the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food given any sign that he wishes to make an oral statement? If he cannot make it now because it is a private Member's day, will he say whether he will make it at 7 o'clock?

§ The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. Michael Jopling)
I have heard the points made by the hon. Members for Pontypridd (Mr. John) and for Caerphilly (Mr. Davies). I have heard also what you said, Mr. Speaker, about the need to keep within the confines of your responsibilities. It is true that it was my intention to answer a question this afternoon on a package of measures for alternative land use and the rural economy, but I was especially aware that today was private Member's time, and I remember from a previous incarnation how unpopular Ministers are when they intrude upon it.
I am in the hands of the House. If you, Mr. Speaker, within your responsibilities, can find an opportunity for 25 me to give the answer now which I would have given later, I shall be happy to take it. I am happy to do that now. If, alternatively, you think that it might be more helpful to have a discussion through what I believe are called the usual channels, I would he happy for that to be done, or for you to find me a facility to answer the question. I am perfectly happy to make my answer available to the House at any time.

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. It is not a matter for me to find time for the right hon. Member. If he wishes to make a statement, no doubt he will have an opportunity to do so tomorrow afternoon.

§ Dr. David Clark (South Shields)
The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretary of State for the Environment are issuing statements today without even giving hon. Members written answers. Is it in order, Mr. Speaker, for the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to give a written answer to the House when there is not a written question on the Order Paper?

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. That is not an innovation. There is a question on the Order Paper. It has been done before. I repeat that if the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food wishes to make a statement, no doubt that should be arranged through the usual channels. That is the best way of dealing with the matter.

§ Mr. Alan Williams (Swansea, West)
rose—

§ Mr. Speaker
I cannot say more than I have done.

§ Mr. Williams
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. This really is an abnormal position. Your role, Mr. Speaker, as you well appreciate, is to protect the interests of Back-Bench Members. It must be virtually unprecedented for a Minister to refuse to answer an oral question, which always has priority in this House, because an answer will be given later in the day to a pursuant question which is not even on the Order Paper. If the Minister is trying to slide his answer through the House, surely the least that he can do is come to the House at 7 o'clock tonight, not tomorrow, and make a statement.

§ The Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Nicholas Edwards)
Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. The right hon. Member for Swansea, West (Mr. Williams) was not in the House when I was on my feet. It is untrue that I refused to answer the question. I answered the question, but said that an answer would also be given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food later.

§ Mr. Ron Davies
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I cannot deal with the matter any more. The hon. Gentleman is a Back-Bench Member, and he will understand that I have a duty to protect the interests of Back-Benchers. This is patently a private Members' day.

§ Mr. Davies
rose—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. There is nothing more that I can say. This is a matter of argument and I have no doubt that it will be discussed through the usual channels and resolved tomorrow.

§ Mr. Davies
On a point of order Mr. Speaker.

§ Mr. Speaker
I shall take it only if it is a matter on which I can rule, and not a continuation of the discussion.

§ Mr. Davies
We have now had the unprecedented spectacle of the Minister of Agriculture Fisheries and Food in effect making a statement but denying that he was doing so. As I understand it, the rules of the House are such that if a Minister comes to the Dispatch Box to make a statement, hon. Members have the opportunity of questioning him. The Minister has in effect made a statement and I am submitting to you, Mr. Speaker, that hon. Members now have the right to question him.

§ Mr. Speaker
The best way of resolving the issue on a private Members' day is for the matter to be discussed through the usual channels. I have no doubt that that will lead to a resolution of the difficulty.

§ Mr. James Callaghan (Cardiff, South and Penarth)
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I am on my feet.

§ Mr. Callaghan
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.