§ Mr. Chris Mullin (Sunderland, South)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. You will recant that last Thursday I raised with you a matter concerning the hon. Member for Erewash (Mr. Rost)—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The hon. Gentleman said that he would raise it as a matter of privilege. He has written to me and I have not yet replied. I am considering the matter.
§ Mr. MullinFurther to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. As a result of my raising the matter on Thursday, I received today a letter from the hon. Member for Erewash which said:
As a matter of courtesy I am advising you that I shall seek to raise this afternoon, on a point of order, your remarks last Thursday.I am here but I am disappointed to see that the hon. Member for Erewash is not present. People will draw their own conclusion about that.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I do not believe that the hon. Gentleman will be raising the matter on a point of order. It may be dealt with tomorrow.
§ Mr. Brian Wilson (Cunninghame, North)Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. I received a similar letter and am similarly disappointed that the hon. Member for Erewash (Mr. Rost) is not present. With regard to remarks that you, Mr. Speaker, made following earlier exchanges, I informed the hon. Member for Erewash, albeit at short notice, that I would be raising this. I explained to the hon. Member for Harrow, East (Mr. Dykes) that, following a long series of points of order, I had to leave the Chamber. I certainly did not intend not to hear him or mean any discourtesy to you, Mr. Speaker.
§ Mr. SpeakerI thank the hon. Gentleman for his remarks.