HC Deb 18 July 1989 vol 157 cc221-2 3.30 pm
Mr. Harry Ewing (Falkirk, East)

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. During Prime Minister's Questions, I have become increasingly worried about the Government's practice of stationing a Government Whip at your right hand. The hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Fallon) stands at your right hand, Mr. Speaker, and nods approval at everything that the Prime Minister says. If he were wearing a wig, it would look as though you were nodding approval. I know your views, Mr. Speaker, so I think that you should deal with this matter.

Mr. Speaker

I take instructions from no one.

Mr. D. N. Campbell-Savours (Workington)

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I wonder whether you have seen the advertisement in The House Magazine in which an hon. Member offers himself for hire as a consultant. It states: Hard working Back Bench Tory MP of 10 years standing seeks consultancy in order to widen his range of activities. Please contact Richard Alexander at the House of Commons". You will no doubt wish to deprecate such a practice, Mr. Speaker. It is not the way that a Member of Parliament should conduct himself. Will you, from your Chair today, deprecate that practice?

Mr. Joseph Ashton (Bassetlaw)

Further to the point of order—

Mr. Speaker

Order. No, that is not a matter for me. If any hon. Member wishes to widen his experience, he has a perfect opportunity to do so through the Industry and Parliament Trust.

Mr. Ashton

Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. I wish to draw your attention to the fact that in the 1970s I wrote an article in Labour Weekly stating that a tiny number of Members of Parliament were available for hire. The House had me up before the Privileges Committee and I was severely censured for contempt of the House, even though it was proved at a later date that three Members had offered their services for hire. I received no pardon or apology. It appears that if a Member writes an article such as mine, he is up before the Privileges Committee for contempt, hut when it is proved later, he gets no recompense.

Mr. Nicholas Bennett (Pembroke)

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker

Is it on the same matter?

Mr. Bennett

It is further to the point of order raised by the hon. Member for Workington (Mr. Campbell-Savours).

Mr. Speaker

All right, I will take it.

Mr. Bennett

You may have noticed an advertisement in The House Magazine two weeks ago, Mr. Speaker, offering £8,000 for a secretary to work a 40-hour week, the advertiser having previously offered £6,000 and failed. Applicants were asked to contact "Simon". As Simon is the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes), will he now explain why a member of a party that believes in putting up pay should offer such low pay for a secretary?

Mr. Speaker

I believe that we should move on to the debate on teacher shortages, but before doing so there is a Ten-Minute rule motion.