§ Mr. Bob Cryer (Bradford, South)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Following the conclusion of the debate on the Abortion (Amendment) Bill on 6 May, you may have seen a number of press reports and television interviews in which it was suggested that there had been a parliamentary mugging, foul play and, according to one broadcast, cheating.
I should be grateful if you would confirm that on 6 May the Standing Orders were fully and properly followed in Parliament, that the rules of debate were properly followed, that the treatment of the hon. Member for Liverpool, Mossley Hill (Mr. Alton) appeared to many of us very generous, in that closures were granted within an almost unprecedentedly short time and that, in all, there was a perfectly fair and proper debate on a number of amendments throughout the morning. There was no parliamentary mugging, no foul play and certainly no cheating on that day.
§ Mr. SpeakerI cannot be held responsible for the extravagant adjectives that have been used elsewhere, but I confirm what the hon. Gentleman has said. To my knowledge, the debate proceeded in good order and under our usual procedures.