Points of Order (Hansard, 19 January 1988)

§ Mr. Tony Banks (Newham, North-West)
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. There is a report in today's Financial Times saying: the Home Secretary is expected to outline his plans for the expansion of UK radio in Parliament today. It is a matter of great discourtesy that those proposals will be outlined in Parliament by way of a parliamentary question that was tabled yesterday, the answer to which will be available between 4 o'clock and 4.30 this afternoon. This is part of the consultation process.
The Government have issued a Green Paper about the future of radio broadcasting in Britain. It would be normal procedure to expect a White Paper and certainly a statement from the Home Secretary at the Dispatch Box to enable us to discuss matters of great significance and importance for broadcasting in Britain. I have not seen the planted reply, but I understand that we are to hear about three new national stations which will be auctioned off. There will be major changes.

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I know nothing about this matter. If we had had a statement today on this issue it would have delayed the start of the debate, in which I have the names of no fewer than 58 right hon. and hon. Members wishing to speak. There is nothing I can do about the hon. Member's comments.

§ Mr. Bob Cryer (Bradford, South)
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. The Register of Members' Interests is important for the operation of certain Standing Orders. The Select Committee on the Register of Members' Interests announced on 8 December that it had agreed on its publication. That document has not yet appeared. It is important that it is published so that we can see whether Tory MPs who accuse nurses of moonlighting are themselves moonlighting by an extensive range of directorships and parliamentary adviserships, like the right hon. Member for Chingford (Mr. Tebbit).

§ Mr. Speaker
I understand that the Register is available for inspection in the Library, but I will look into the matter that the hon. Gentleman has raised.

§ Mr. Bill Walker (Tayside, North)
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I seek your guidance as a member of the First Scottish Standing Committee. This morning we were unable to conduct our business—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I cannot give any guidance to the hon. Gentleman on that. As I stated last week, in answer to a broadly similar point of order, what goes on in a Standing Committee cannot be raised with me on the Floor of the House.

§ Mr. Tony Banks
Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. There is nothing further to it at all. I say to the hon. Gentleman that he has made his point. I can do nothing about it. It is not a matter for me. It is not a matter of order. Ten-minute Bill—

§ Mr. Banks
rose—

§ Mr. Speaker
No. I say again to the hon. Gentleman that I cannot hear any more on that matter.