Points of Order (Hansard, 2 November 1988)

§ Mr. Bob Cryer (Bradford, South)
On a point of order arising out of questions, Mr. Speaker. There is an obligation on Ministers—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. It is not arising out of questions. It is a point of order.

§ Mr. Cryer
On a point of order following questions, Mr. Speaker. As you know, there is an obligation on Ministers to provide information to Parliament. That is a convention of the constitution. It is misleading the House to suggest that the Conservatives in Bradford presented information to the electors—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. As I feared, that is a continuation of Question Time. I am sorry that I was unable to call the hon. Gentleman, but one of his colleagues from Bradford made a rather long intervention and I cannot get every Member in.

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

§ Mr. Speaker
No.

Mr. Eric S. Heller (Liverpool, Walton)
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I have noticed for some time now that you tend to take points of order after other business. May I ask why?

§ Mr. Speaker
That has been a long-established practice.

Mr. Heifer
No, it has not.

§ Mr. Speaker
It certainly has.

Mr. Heifer
It has not.

§ Mr. Speaker
The moment when points of order are taken is immediately after statements or applications under Standing Order No. 20.

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

§ Mr. Speaker
I am not prepared to have a continuation of Question Time. If it is a different point of order, I will hear it.

§ Mr. Cryer
It is a different point of order, Mr. Speaker. The implication of your statement is that if one of a number of Members being considered for calling at Question Time takes what you regard as a long time over a question, other Members from the area will be penalised. That is something that no Speaker has ever announced in the House before. Surely we are all elected to the House and all have the right to be called at your discretion, irrespective of the comments made by any other Member.

§ Mr. Speaker
That is absolutely correct, but I think the hon. Gentleman will accept that if an area has four Members and every one of those Members is called on every question relating to it, that would be unfair to Members representing other areas.

§ Mr. Andrew Faulds (Warley, East)
rose—

§ Mr. Tony Banks (Newham, North-West)
rose—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I think that I had better call Mr. Faulds.

§ Mr. Tony Banks
He has only just got here.

§ Mr. Faulds
I have been here for 22 years.

Hon. Members
Resign.

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I do not think that that is too long.

§ Mr. Faulds
I appreciate your appreciation, Sir. May I make a point that is relevant to this important point of order, without these discrepancies of youngsters trying to intervene and interfere? With due respect to you, Sir, I have been in the House longer than you.

§ Mr. David Winnick (Walsall, North)
Mr. Speaker has been here for two years longer than my hon. Friend.

§ Mr. Faulds
In that case, I apologise, Sir. You have done two years' more service than I have, but perhaps my memory is somewhat better than yours. In the old days, points of order were invariably accepted by the Chair the moment they arose. There has been a change in practice, which unfortunately started in the time of your lamentable predecessor.

§ Mr. Speaker
There has been no change of practice.

§ Mr. Tony Banks
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. With regard to your earlier point on Bradford, you will recall that in the days of the blessed Bruinvels you regularly took questions from all three Members from Leicester—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. The House must allow the Speaker to make the decision on this matter. I am not prepared to debate who I call at Question Time or at any other time.

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

§ Mr. Speaker
No.

§ Mr. Cryer
May I make a further point of order, Mr. Speaker?

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I am on my feet. The hon. Member may not raise a point of order.