§ Mr. David Winnick (Walsall, North)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. It has always been said that the House is concerned with the rights of individuals and that any injustice, or possible injustice, to an individual is as much the concern of the House of Commons as is injustice to a large number of people. Is it not a fact that the very serious death threat that has been made against a British citizen—a death threat made by someone who is, in effect, the leader of a foreign country with which we have diplomatic relations—is of such importance that we should have a statement at the earliest opportunity?
There are two matters that I wish to raise with you, Mr.. Speaker. The first concerns the protection of the individual, which is a matter for the Home Secretary, and the second concerns the state of Anglo-Iranian relations. Many of us believe that diplomatic relations with Iran should be broken off. I hope that I am not in any way abusing the opportunity to raise a point of order with you, but will there be an opportunity for the House to question a Minister at the earliest opportunity? I hoped that we could do that today, but I trust that we shall certainly have an opportunity tomorrow.
§ Mr. SpeakerThat matter may well arise during Prime Minister's Question Time tomorrow.
§ Mr. Dennis Skinner (Bolsover)On a point of order, Mr Speaker. You and some other Members of Parliament are residents of Westminster. I am not sure whether you are a ratepayer in Westminster, but, as a resident of this building, you might well be one. It has been suggested that Westminster ratepayers can call for an extraordinary audit into the council's affairs. The council has spent £1 million paying off Mr. Brooke, the chief executive, to keep his mouth shut. 11 is possible within the law for ratepayers to call for an extraordinary audit.
I have the idea that, as you, Mr. Speaker, live here, we could have a round robin and you could head it. There are one or two Opposition Members who live up the road who would sign. I am not too sure that we would get too many Tories to sign. I am pretty sure that if we started things here, we could get an extraordinary audit and sort out this Lady Porter job.
§ Mr. SpeakerI think that the hon. Member might start the round robin.
§ Mr. Nicholas Bennett (Pembroke)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. While we are on local government matters, 716 perhaps Derbyshire county council could be included in the extraordinary audit so that we might establish why Mr. Reg Race has lasted only nine months and the pay-off has not been announced to the public.
§ Mr. Richard Holt (Langbaurgh)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. You will have been alerted, during the weekend, to the serious situation which has arisen again in Cleveland. It is a matter which Parliament has yet to debate. There has been a judicial inquiry into what happened, but many of ray constituents are being subjected, once again, to serious allegations, although they have been cleared in court. I wonder whether there is any way in which the Secretary of State for Health can be brought to the House to make a statement about child sex abuse in Cleveland. The Government clearly refuse to give us an opportunity to debate the matter, despite my asking for a debate on no fewer than a 12 occasions.
The Government were clearly unaware of the subterranean effort to bring the issue to the fore. It is no coincidence that there is a letter signed by 11 paediatricians, a letter from a psychologist and letters in the local press attacking the hon. Member for Middlesbrough (Mr. Bell) and me, and that there is to be a seminar at Teesside polytechnic next weekend, at which the guest speaker is—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. What is the point of order for me? I shall not be there.
§ Mr. HoltThe matter is serious. We ought to have a statement from the Government so that my constituents and those of my friend and colleague the hon. Member for Middlesbrough can have their minds put at rest.
§ Mr. SpeakerI am sure that what the hon. Member has said has been carefully noted by members on the Government Front Bench.
§ Mr. Eric S. Heffer (Liverpool, Walton)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I understand the reply that you gave my hon. Friend the Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick), but is it not possible to ask the Leader of the House, who is present, when we will have a statement about Mr. Rushdie and the ayatollah's decision? This is a matter of great importance to the British people. Can we have a Government statement at the earliest possible moment? As the Leader of the House is here, perhaps he can give us an idea of when a statement will be made.
§ Mr. SpeakerI am sure that the Leader of the House has listened carefully and will have noted what has been said on this important matter.