HC Deb 14 February 1989 vol 147 cc160-1

4.5 pm

Mr. Harry Ewing (Falkirk, East)

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. You will like this, because, as usual, it is very helpful. Let me take you back to Prime Minister's Question Time, the confusion that reigned in the House and the difficulty in which the Chair was placed as a result of the Prime Minister's extremely long answer, which some of us would describe unkindly as time wasting. I know that you are a great football fan and last Wednesday the referee in Scotland-Cyprus game added on six minutes to compensate for time wasted. Would not that be a good principle for the occupant of the Chair?

Mr. Speaker

I am often tempted, but that way we would not get much business done.

Mr. Nicholas Bennett (Pembroke)

Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. If the Leader of the Opposition chooses to ask a planted question, should not the Opposition listen to the answer?

Mr. Speaker

We should all listen to the answer, which today was one that the House was waiting to hear.

Sir Nicholas Fairbairn (Perth and Kinross)

Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. The hon. Member for Falkirk, East (Mr. Ewing) did not tell you that the referee was knocked out after the game.

Mr. Tony Marlow (Northampton, North)

Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. As this is probably the first time that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's answer has been longer than that of the Leader of the Opposition's question, perhaps in future you could subtract time from Question Time if the Leader of the Opposition goes on at his usual length.

Mr. Speaker

I know that there was some difficulty during Employment questions today. Long supplementary questions lead to long answers and we do not get through many questions. I am in favour of calling as many Back Benchers as possible.

Mr. Dennis Skinner (Bolsover)

If there had been an extra six minutes, as Scotland had in that match when rt scored the vital goal—[Interruption.] Scotland will probably qualify and England might not. If we had those six minutes today, an hon. Member might have asked about the way in which the shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer was treated at the royal mint in Wales this morning during the by—election campaign.

Mr. Speaker

rose—

Mr. Skinner

This is a matter for you, Mr. Speaker, so listen carefully. He was ordered by the Treasury that he must not step into—

Mr. Speaker

Order. That is not a matter for me. I thought that the hon. Gentleman was mentioning the royal mint in connection with a function here today. I know nothing about the other matter.

Mr. Skinner

No, well, I was coming on to that. I was going on to say that if we had had those extra six minutes we could have raised this important new development in Government authoritarianism, in which the shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer is refused admission to the royal mint which was sent to Wales by a Labour Government after the Conservative party had refused to let it go—

Mr. Speaker

Order. I am sorry, but I must use my authority on this matter. I know nothing about that. If the shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer is in London, he is welcome to come to the party that I shall be giving tonight for the royal mint.

Mr. Alan Williams (Swansea, West)

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. We accept entirely the fact that this is not a matter for you, because we realise that you are in the middle of the situation. But, since the Leader of the House and the Government Chief Whip are present, let me say that it is extraordinary for one of the most senior Members of the Opposition Front Bench to be denied entrance to a public establishment such as the mint. May I ask, through you, Mr. Speaker, for the Leader of the House to consult the Chancellor—we understand that the local mint officials had to refer the issue to the Treasury and, therefore, the Chancellor's office—and for the Chancellor to come to the House and explain why that peculiar exclusion order was enforced?

Several Hon. Members

Further to that point of order—

Mr. Speaker

Order. It is not further to the point of order. I will hear one more, but it is nothing to do with me. I do not know anything at all about this.

Mr. David Shaw (Dover)

Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. On this occasion I have some sympathy with hon. Gentlemen. I feel that in the circumstances, in which the Labour party is in severe difficulties in the Pontypridd by-election and is desperate—

Mr. Speaker

Order. That is not a point of order for me. [Interruption.] I will be calling the hon. Gentleman in the debate very soon, so I think that we ought to get on.

Mr. Skinner

On a point of order—

Mr. Speaker

No, I am not having any more on that.

Mr. Skinner

On a point of order—

Mr. Speaker

No point of order arises.

Mr. Skinner

You issued the electoral writ—

Mr. Speaker

Order. Mr. Harry Cohen.