§ 58. Mr. DalyellTo ask the Attorney-General what steps he takes to ensure the secure storage of documents relating to his legal advice to Ministers.
§ The Attorney-GeneralMy Department follows established procedures.
§ Mr. DalyellOn the subject of misconduct, may I ask, in a quiet and sensible way, whether Mr. Ingham did not get hold of legal advice and approve its quite improper disclosure in relation to the Solicitor-General's own letter on Westlands? Also on the question of misconduct, was not Sir Michael Havers so angry when he returned from his sick bed that he threatened to have Scotland Yard at the door of No. 10 Downing street if an inquiry was not set up? Equally, on the question of misconduct—gross 730 misconduct—did not the Prime Minister, when cornered and in difficulty—she is now forming another Cabinet—resort, at column 657 of the Official Report for 27 January 1986, to telling Parliament, in order to get out of her difficulty, a self-preserving and self-seeking lie?
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The hon. Gentleman knows far better than that. Will he please withdraw that last comment?
§ Mr. DalyellYou see, Mr. Speaker—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Will the hon. Gentleman please withdraw that comment?
§ Mr. DalyellNo—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I would be deeply reluctant to have to take action on this. Will the hon. Gentleman withdraw that final remark?
§ Mr. SkinnerHe said it last week and nobody pulled him up.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I am dealing with this. Will the hon. Gentleman withdraw that comment?
§ Mr. DalyellWho does a greater injury to Parliament, a Prime Minister who lies—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I am not concerned with that matter. The hon. Gentleman must now obey my request or take the consequences.
§ Mr. DalyellWe have to be quite clear—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The hon. Gentleman is putting in jeopardy the questions of other Members of Parliament. I will give him one more chance. Will he withdraw that comment, please?
§ Mr. DalyellThis is too serious a matter. It is dragging on and on. As you know, Mr. Speaker I have been to see you about this issue. It is a serious matter. Our questions have been pushed aside. Question after question has not been answered. What does the House expect—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I have already said this and I am deeply reluctant to say it again. Is the hon. Gentleman refusing to withdraw that word?
§ Mr. DalyellIf I had wanted to withdraw it I would not have said it. It is the truth.
§ Mr. SpeakerI name Mr. Tam Dalyell.
§ The Attorney-GeneralTo my great personal regret, it falls to me to move,
That Mr. Tam Dalyell be suspended from the service of the House.Question put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 43 (Order in debate):— The House proceeded to a division—
§ Mr. Ian Taylor (Esher)(seated and covered): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Is it in order that we are about to lose Overseas Development questions, particularly those on Brazilian rain forests which were tabled by several Conservative Members, because of the disgraceful behaviour of Labour Members?
§ Mr. SpeakerIt is not a question of order; it is a question of fact.
§ The House having divided: Ayes 188, Noes 28.
732| Division No. 315] | [3.21 pm |
| AYES | |
| Adams, Allen (Paisley N) | Garel-Jones, Tristan |
| Adley, Robert | Glyn, Dr Alan |
| Alison, Rt Hon Michael | Golding, Mrs Llin |
| Allason, Rupert | Gorst, John |
| Anderson, Donald | Gow, Ian |
| Arbuthnot, James | Grant, Sir Anthony (CambsSW) |
| Arnold, Jacques (Gravesham) | Greenway, Harry (Ealing N) |
| Ashby, David | Gregory, Conal |
| Atkinson, David | Ground, Patrick |
| Batiste, Spencer | Gummer, Rt Hon John Selwyn |
| Beaumont-Dark, Anthony | Hamilton, Neil (Tatton) |
| Beith, A. J. | Hanley, Jeremy |
| Bennett, Nicholas (Pembroke) | Hannam, John |
| Blaker, Rt Hon Sir Peter | Haselhurst, Alan |
| Bonsor, Sir Nicholas | Heathcoat-Amory, David |
| Boscawen, Hon Robert | Heddle, John |
| Boswell, Tim | Hicks, Robert (Cornwall SE) |
| Bottomley, Peter | Higgins, Rt Hon Terence L. |
| Bowden, Gerald (Dulwich) | Hill, James |
| Bowis, John | Howarth, Alan (Strat'd-on-A) |
| Boyson, Rt Hon Dr Sir Rhodes | Howarth, G. (Cannock & B'wd) |
| Brandon-Bravo, Martin | Hughes, Roy (Newport E) |
| Brazier, Julian | Hunt, David (Wirral W) |
| Bruce, Malcolm (Gordon) | Hunt, Sir John (Ravensbourne) |
| Buchanan-Smith, Rt Hon Alick | Hunter, Andrew |
| Buck, Sir Antony | Hurd, Rt Hon Douglas |
| Butler, Chris | Ingram, Adam |
| Butterfill, John | Irvine, Michael |
| Campbell, Menzies (Fife NE) | Jack, Michael |
| Carrington, Matthew | Janman, Tim |
| Cartwright, John | Jessel, Toby |
| Cash, William | Jones, Robert B (Herts W) |
| Chapman, Sydney | Jopling, Rt Hon Michael |
| Clark, Hon Alan (Plym'th S'n) | Kellett-Bowman, Dame Elaine |
| Conway, Derek | Kennedy, Charles |
| Coombs, Anthony (Wyre F'rest) | Key, Robert |
| Coombs, Simon (Swindon) | King, Roger (B'ham N'thfield) |
| Cormack, Patrick | Kinnock, Rt Hon Neil |
| Cran, James | Kirkhope, Timothy |
| Currie, Mrs Edwina | Kirkwood, Archy |
| Curry, David | Knapman, Roger |
| Davis, David (Boothferry) | Knight, Dame Jill (Edgbaston) |
| Day, Stephen | Lang, Ian |
| Devlin, Tim | Latham, Michael |
| Dickens, Geoffrey | Lawrence, Ivan |
| Dorrell, Stephen | Lennox-Boyd, Hon Mark |
| Douglas-Hamilton, Lord James | Lightbown, David |
| Dover, Den | Lloyd, Sir Ian (Havant) |
| Dunwoody, Hon Mrs Gwyneth | Lloyd, Peter (Fareham) |
| Durant, Tony | Lord, Michael |
| Dykes, Hugh | Lyell, Sir Nicholas |
| Eggar, Tim | McCrindle, Robert |
| Fallon, Michael | McKay, Allen (Barnsley West) |
| Fenner, Dame Peggy | Maclean, David |
| Finsberg, Sir Geoffrey | Maclennan, Robert |
| Forman, Nigel | McLoughlin, Patrick |
| Forth, Eric | McNair-Wilson, Sir Patrick |
| Foster, Derek | Malins, Humfrey |
| Fox, Sir Marcus | Maples, John |
| Gardiner, George | Marlow, Tony |
| Marshall, John (Hendon S) | Speed, Keith |
| Marshall, Michael (Arundel) | Speller, Tony |
| Martin, David (Portsmouth S) | Spicer, Sir Jim (Dorset W) |
| Mates, Michael | Spicer, Michael (S Worcs) |
| Maude, Hon Francis | Stanbrook, Ivor |
| Mawhinney, Dr Brian | Stanley, Rt Hon Sir John |
| Mayhew, Rt Hon Sir Patrick | Steel, Rt Hon David |
| Mitchell, Andrew (Gedling) | Stern, Michael |
| Molyneaux, Rt Hon James | Stewart, Allan (Eastwood) |
| Monro, Sir Hector | Stokes, Sir John |
| Morrison, Sir Charles | Sumberg, David |
| Morrison, Rt Hon P (Chester) | Tapsell, Sir Peter |
| Mudd, David | Taylor, Ian (Esher) |
| Newton, Rt Hon Tony | Thorne, Neil |
| Nicholson, Emma (Devon West) | Thurnham, Peter |
| Onslow, Rt Hon Cranley | Tracey, Richard |
| Owen, Rt Hon Dr David | Tredinnick, David |
| Page, Richard | Trotter, Neville |
| Parkinson, Rt Hon Cecil | Twinn, Dr Ian |
| Patnick, Irvine | Waddington, Rt Hon David |
| Patten, Rt Hon Chris (Bath) | Wakeham, Rt Hon John |
| Portillo, Michael | Walker, Bill (T'side North) |
| Powell, William (Corby) | Ward, John |
| Raffan, Keith | Wells, Bowen |
| Renton, Tim | Wheeler, John |
| Rhodes James, Robert | Whitney, Ray |
| Riddick, Graham | Widdecombe, Ann |
| Rowe, Andrew | Wiggin, Jerry |
| Sackville, Hon Tom | Williams, Rt Hon Alan |
| Scott, Rt Hon Nicholas | Wood, Timothy |
| Shaw, Sir Michael (Scarb') | Yeo, Tim |
| Shelton, Sir William | Young, Sir George (Acton) |
| Shephard, Mrs G. (Norfolk SW) | |
| Shersby, Michael | Tellers for the Ayes: |
| Skeet, Sir Trevor | Mr. Kenneth Carlisle and Mr. John M. Taylor. |
| Smith, Tim (Beaconsfield) |
| NOES | |
| Benn, Rt Hon Tony | McAllion, John |
| Callaghan, Jim | McCartney, Ian |
| Canavan, Dennis | McKelvey, William |
| Clwyd, Mrs Ann | Madden, Max |
| Cohen, Harry | Mahon, Mrs Alice |
| Cox, Tom | Patchett, Terry |
| Dalyell, Tam | Redmond, Martin |
| Davis, Terry (B'ham Hodge H'l) | Salmond, Alex |
| Eadie, Alexander | Sedgemore, Brian |
| Ewing, Mrs Margaret (Moray) | Vaz, Keith |
| Flannery, Martin | Williams, Alan W. (Carm'then) |
| Galloway, George | Winnick, David |
| Hardy, Peter | |
| Heffer, Eric S. | Tellers for the Noes: |
| Litherland, Robert | Mr. Dennis Skinner and Mr. Harry Barnes. |
| Livingstone, Ken |
§ Question accordingly agreed to.
Ordered,That Mr. Tam Dalyell be suspended from the service of the House.
§ Mr. HefferOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. After the statement.