Point of Order (Hansard, 23 January 1989)

§ Mr. Max Madden (Bradford, West)
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. During the weekend, the Home Secretary, in a well publicised speech made to his constituents, talked about immigration matters, and, yesterday, to listeners to BBC radio, he again made remarks which are directly connected with an article that appeared in yesterday's The Observer under the headline: Police set to raid sanctuaries". The article reported what was described as a well-placed source in the Home Office's Immigration Service as saying: the word is to go out and whack them. It is going to be like Mendis—snatched and deported within 48 hours"—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I accept this is a matter for the Home Secretary, not for me. What is the hon. Member's point of order?

§ Mr. Madden
As the Home Secretary is now walking towards the Dispatch Box, can I plead with him, through you, Mr. Speaker, to make the statement that he refused to make last Thursday and Friday before the deportation of Viraj Mendis? May we ask him to make a statement about his policy on deportation, in view of most disturbing remarks by one of his officials, which The Observer published yesterday?

§ Mr. Speaker
That is a matter for the Home Secretary. I am sure that he has heard what has been said.