HC Deb 13 December 1989 vol 163 cc994-5

Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, supported by Mr. Secretary Waddington, Mr. Secretary Walker, Mr. Secretary King, Mr. Secretary Ridley, Mr. Secretary Rifkind, Mr. Secretary Parkinson, Mr. Secretary Patten, Mr. Norman Lamont, Mr. Richard Luce, Mr. Peter Lilley and Mr. Richard Ryder, presented a Bill to amend the Government Trading Funds Act 1973 and section 5 of the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1921 and to repeal the Borrowing (Control and Guarantees) Act 1946: And the same was read the First time; and ordered to be read a Second time tomorrow and to be printed. [Bill 10.]

Mr. Speaker

On another matter—Mr. Campbell-Savours.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As you were here during Question Time and heard what happened on water questions, and as you know that many Conservative Members of Parliament have bought shares in water companies and that Labour Members have refused to do so, is it right that those Conservative Members should be allowed to ask questions which, by their effect, may help further to drive up the price of water shares on the stock exchange? Is it not improper for them to ask questions that might influence whether a further rights issue should be made to secure further money for the water companies? Could you rule on this matter? Surely it is quite improper—

Mr. Speaker

Order. I have absolutely no knowledge of the shareholdings—

Mr. Campbell-Savours

They should he on the Register

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Gentleman said, "As you know". I have no knowledge of such matters. If they are recorded in the Register of Members' Interests, I would have knowledge of them, but I have no knowledge about the matters raised by the hon. Gentleman.

Mr. Jeremy Corbyn (Islington, North)

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Gentleman is taking time from his Front-Bench spokesman, but I will hear him.

Mr. Corbyn

Is it not correct that those Conservative Members who have bought shares in the water companies should now declare that and should not take any part in any debate or discussion of the matter in this House, because otherwise they could be thought to be feathering their own nests as a result of being Members of Parliament?

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Gentleman knows that there are well-known rules about the registration of interests in companies. If an hon. Member had a certain number of shares that fell within those rules, he would have to register them.

Mr. Harry Cohen (Leyton)

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Bearing in mind your answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Dagenham (Mr. Gould), which I well understand, would it now be in order for you to rule that an hon. Member can table a question asking for a breakdown by colour of how many people are stopped by immigration officials and how many are deported? A breakdown by colour would prove categorically that the Government are racist in their immigration policies.

Mr. Speaker

That is a hypothetical question. If the hon. Gentleman cares to table such a question, I shall look at it carefully.