HC Deb 09 February 1987 vol 110 c26
Mr. James Callaghan (Cardiff, South and Penarth)

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I regret to say that my point of order relates to the matter that was previously before the House, which you said was one of argument. Would you not consider it to be a matter of propriety as well as one of argument, Mr. Speaker? Do you think that the House should be subjected to a procedure that means that no statement is made to it when a press conference is to be held at 4 o'clock? Is such a practice not to be deprecated?

Mr. Speaker

What the right hon. Gentleman says—he has great experience in this place—may be correct, but it is not a matter of order on which I can rule. The best way for the House to proceed is to allow the matter to be discussed through the usual channels. I am certain that that will lead to a resolution.

Mr. Greville Janner (Leicester, West)

Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. I raised this specific issue when a previous Government did exactly the same thing.

Mr. Eric Forth (Mid-Worcestershire)

A Labour Government?

Mr. Janner

No. It was done by a previous Conservative Government. Your predecessor. Mr. Speaker, ruled that, though he was not able to say that the practice was contrary to the rules of order, he thought that it was a thoroughly unworthy practice that the House should be treated in a way that meant that a press conference was held prior to the making of a statement in the House. In these circumstances, Mr. Speaker, will you repeat the deprecation now? It is surely monstrous that the Government should continue to behave in this way.

Mr. Speaker

The House knows that Ministers frequently give information to the House by way of written answers to questions. There is a new feature today, because the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and food has offered to make a statement at a different time, and I hope that that will happen.

Forward to