Chancellor of the Exchequer (Statement) (Hansard, 26 October 1987)

§ Mr. Gordon Brown (Dunfermline, East)
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. It is clear from the events of this evening that we have a Chancellor of the Exchequer—[Interruption.]—who is prepared to speak to the press, to speak to the stock exchange, to speak in the City, to ask for representations to be made to the financial institutions about the sale of BP, and who has invited representation from abroad as well as from home, but who is not prepared to come to the House to answer questions about the serious problems that are worrying hon. Members constituents.
We have been told of the serious consequences of the stock exchange collapse for jobs and industry. Why is the Chancellor not prepared to come to the House and answer questions about the problems facing industry and about interest rates in this country? Why, when we know that the Chancellor has been in the building this evening, is he not prepared to come into the Chamber to speak?
Why is the standard bearer of free market forces, who has been defending free market forces for the eight years of this Government, unprepared to come here and defend free market forces when they have been exposed for what they are?

Several Hon. Members
rose—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I hope that we will not have a rerun of the previous points of order.

§ Mr. Tony Banks (Newham, North-west)
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I am on my feet. I hope that we will not have a re-run of the points of order that we had earlier this evening. They are not points of order that I can answer. I think that the whole House had better wait to see what happens tomorrow.

§ Mr. Tony Marlow (Northampton, North)
Is it not disgraceful and demeaning that, given the problems—[Interruption.]—the only thing that the Opposition can do is to try to make mean, peevish, small-minded political capital out of it. Is that not one of the reasons why they did so badly at the last general election and why they are failing?

§ Mr. Speaker
I think that we should get on with the fisheries debate.

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

§ Mr. Speaker
I am not prepared to listen to a further re-run of points of order that have nothing to do with me.

§ Mr. Banks
This is a different point of order.

§ Mr. Speaker
Is it a genuinely different point of order?

§ Mr. Banks
Yes, Sir. We have reached the point at which this has been reduced to the level of low farce. The Chancellor of the Exchequer is treating the House with 120 contempt. He was in the House at 8.27 pm, moving exceedingly fast. Therefore, one can only assume that he was probably on his way to another dinner appointment. It is outrageous that he cannot be at the Dispatch Box to make a statement, if indeed it was the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and not Frank Larsen.

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I know nothing about the Chancellor having been in the building. He certainly was not in the Chamber.

§ Mr. Andrew Faulds (Warley, East)
Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker.

§ Mr. Speaker
I do not know whether the hon. Gentleman was here earlier this evening.

§ Mr. Faulds
Yes, I was.

§ Mr. Speaker
The hon. Gentleman did not take the opportunity then. If he had been here earlier, he would have known that I cannot do anything about the matter. It is not a matter for me.

§ Mr. Faulds
Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker.

§ Mr. Speaker
I shall hear the hon. Gentleman. He is the last hon. Member whom I shall hear.

§ Mr. Faulds
I was here a little earlier. I am just a little degree surprised that you did not notice me, Mr. Speaker. I was obviously too quiet for once. I shall remedy that now. Some hours have passed since the last exchanges on this matter. I do think — I hate to lecture you, Sir — that you have a very grave responsibility as the Speaker in terms of what happens in the conduct of government. We all know — it is no good your nodding your head — that frequently there are private exchanges behind your Chair. All that is needed—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I am not prepared to listen to this nonsense.

§ Mr. Faulds
It is not nonsense. Where is the Chancellor? [Interruption.]

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. Sit down. The hon. Gentleman must not allege that I take part in private discussions behind the Chair. I have been in the Chair most of today. The hon. Gentleman should make his point of order.

§ Mr. Faulds
The point of order is very simple. A grave crisis threatens our country. We have a Chancellor who is supposedly responsible for the economic policies of this country. He has not the guts or the gumption to come down here. I think that a little private word from you, Sir, might rectify the matter.

§ Mr. Dennis Skinner (Bolsover)
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. The hon. Gentleman had a fair run this afternoon.