§ Mr. Paddy Ashdown (Yeovil)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Over the weekend, the total failure of the Prime Minister's policy on Europe became cruelly apparent, and she moved this country to the brink of isolation in Europe. Is it not an abuse of the House, and typical of the contempt in which she holds it, that the Prime Minister is not prepared to address it this afternoon, but will seek to do so tomorrow, after our key European debate this evening? Is it not a matter of the gravest concern that this issue, which is so important to our nation, will not be debated or voted on this week or probably before Christmas because of the conspiracy of agreement between the two Front Benches? As this matter is not amenable to an application under Standing Order No. 20, may I seek your advice, Mr. Speaker, on how it could be debated and voted on before it is too late?
§ Mr. SpeakerThe right hon. Gentleman knows that I am not responsible for the timing of statements, but I understand that the Prime Minister is to make a statement on the matter tomorrow. I am sure that what he said about the debate will have been heard by those on the Front Bench, but, again, the arrangement of such a debate is not a matter for me.
§ Mr. Graham Riddick (Colne Valley)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Page 129 of "Erskine May" refers to improper but indirect attempts to influence Members. Having considered this, is there not clearly a case of privilege to be answered when an hon. Member feels it necessary to consider resigning and fighting a by-election because of the undue and overmightly influence of the same trade union block vote that sponsors the Leader of the Opposition?
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Gentleman mentioned the word "privilege." If he alleges that this is indeed a matter of privilege, he must write to me in the usual way and I shall deal with it. I cannot deal with it on the Floor of the House.
§ Mr. RiddickI accept that, but, through you, Mr. Speaker, may I offer the hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field) my support and help in his fight to retain his seat?
§ Mr. SpeakerI am sure that the hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field) will be grateful for the hon. Gentleman's support.
§ Mr. Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Arising out of questions, may I raise a domestic House of Commons matter of some little consequence—the powers, authority and job of the House of Commons Commission? Question No. 47, about which I have been writing to you, Mr. Speaker, the Department of the Environment and others for over two years, on the truly disgraceful state of the Font in Welsh marble and its deteriorating stonework has been accepted by the Table Office. It is embarrassing to take knowledgeable visitors to see the fabric of the House of Commons and to find that the stone is crumbling. I know that there are complications involving the bomb that dropped in the 1940s and the destabilising of the Crypt floor.
679 Is this not a matter for the House of Commons Commission? The Table Office took the view that it was. I am not quibbling about not being called at Question Time. I am making the point that it is about time the Speaker of the House of Commons put his weight behind doing something about our building.
§ Mr. SpeakerI do not know whether the hon. Member has received the letter that I wrote to him on 8 December.
§ Mr. Dalyellindicated dissent.
§ Mr. SpeakerEvidently the hon. Member has not received that letter. When he does so, I think that he will understand why his question was transferred. However, in my letter I said that I shared his concern. I have a family christening in the Crypt Chapel next week and, bearing in mind what the hon. Member has said, I shall look carefully at the Font.
§ Mr. Nicholas Bennett (Pembroke)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. You will know that from time to time the Opposition complain about Ministers making statements outside the House rather than to the House. I understand that a statement was to be made at 4 o'clock by the Leader of the Opposition on the matter which was raised by my hon. Friend the Member for Colne Valley (Mr. Riddick), referring to the hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field). This is a matter of keen constitutional importance to all Members. I wonder whether some way can be found to change the procedures of the House so that the Leader of the Opposition can make a statement to the House and we can question him about it.
§ Mr. SpeakerThat is as may be, but it is not a matter of order in the House.
§ Mr. Dennis Skinner (Bolsover)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I remind the House that we have a very busy day ahead of us.
§ Mr. SkinnerI thought that I saw you wince when the hon. Member for Northampton, North (Mr. Marlow) submitted his Standing Order No. 20 application and 680 spoke about the incitement of racial hatred. When Conservative Members want to stir up racial hatred, I wonder whether you could provide these members of the goose-stepping tendency with a pair of jackboots. They could be kept with the opera hat which is with the Serjeant at Arms. In that way, hon. Members could dress properly for the occasion and the viewers would know what they were up to.
§ Mr. Tony Marlow (Northampton, North)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.
§ Mr. SpeakerI shall take the point of order because the hon. Member was mentioned.
§ Mr. MarlowI am grateful to you, Mr. Speaker. I am sorry that the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) feels that it is wrong for a Member to put forward the views that he knows are held by the majority of his constituents. If that is his position, let the hon. Gentleman tell his constituency about it, because my constituents would rather have my views.
§ Mr. SpeakerPerhaps I can clear up the matter. Every Member has a right to make his speech in his own way. We often have to listen to speeches with which we may not wholly agree. The hon. Member for Northampton, North (Mr. Marlow) has a right to make his submission, and he has done so.