§ Mr. Richard Holt (Langbaurgh)On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. During the middle of Question Time about four weeks ago, the hon. Member for Stockton, North (Mr. Cook) raised a point of order, which was conceded by Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker said that he could not rule whether a point of order was in order until he had heard it. He agreed that in those circumstances points of order could be raised during Question Time. In the light of that, Mr. Deputy Speaker, would you like to reconsider your decision earlier this afternoon to refuse to allow me to raise a point of order?
§ Mr. Deputy Speaker (Mr. Harold Walker)I follow the usual practice of Mr. Speaker. I hope that the hon. Member for Langbaurgh (Mr. Holt) is not challenging my ruling.
§ Mr. Andrew Faulds (Warley, East)On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. For the convenience and aural comfort of the House, could one of the colleagues of the Minister for Local Government teach the hon. and learned Gentleman how to use a microphone——
§ Mr. Deputy SpeakerOrder. I take the hon. Gentleman's point. I think that the Minister does too. I think that the House will recognise that the Minister was getting slightly too close to the microphone.
§ Mr. FauldsI have a point of order that I should like to pursue, Mr. Deputy Speaker. The Minister must not treat the thing like a lollipop.
I have another point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. The House will remember that some many months ago now I raised with Mr. Speaker, when he was in the Chair, the need for the consideration of the introduction of emergency questions on the Order Paper. We have had a prime example today where, because of the set questions, we could not raise—some of us—a much more important and significant matter that has happened since the printing and putting down of questions. I have now had to suffer in my constituency——
§ Mr. Deputy SpeakerOrder.
§ Mr. FauldsIf I could finish my point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker, it would be understood.
§ Mr. Deputy SpeakerThe hon. Gentleman is raising a matter of procedure and he knows that the way to pursue that is to make a reference to the Procedure Committee, when it is established. It is not a matter on which I can rule now.