HC Deb 26 July 1989 vol 157 cc1050-1 4.59 pm
Mr. Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside)

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. May I ask whether you have received any requests from Ministers to make a statement on the salmonella outbreak in Clwyd? There is considerable anxiety on Deeside and throughout that county. I believe that, before the end of the day, a statement should he made on this serious outbreak. We need to know whether the outbreak has affected 48 people in Clwyd, whether there are 13 hospital cases, whether there is a seriously ill pensioner and whether children are affected—

Mr. Speaker

Order. The point of order is to me and to ask whether I have received a request for a statement. The hon. Member should not go into detail. I must tell him that I have not had such a request.

Mr. Jones

I was about to say to you, Mr. Speaker, that there is widespread anxiety in my constituency and in neighbouring constituencies. We want to know whether there are enough environmental health officers to assist locate the seat of the outbreak. We urgently want to know from Ministers what the Government are doing so that public anxiety can be allayed. Can you help to establish whether a Minister from the Welsh Office will come to the Chamber and make a statement about this serious outbreak of salmonella? Public opinion demands that that information be given.

Mr. Speaker

I repeat that I have not had any request for such a statement. I am sure that what the hon. Gentleman has said will have been heard on the Government Front Bench. We never know what might happen tomorrow.

Mrs. Alice Mahon (Halifax)

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. You will have heard the Secretary of State for Health during Question Time yesterday make some insulting remarks that implied that my constituents are not fit to vote on whether they want hospitals to opt out of the National Health Service. Would you examine the record, Mr. Speaker, and consider asking the Secretary of State for Health to withdraw those deeply offensive remarks?

Mr. Speaker

I must tell the hon. Lady that I was here and I did not hear any offensive remarks. In any case, the time to raise a point of order on a matter like that is when it occurred, not now. I cannot go back to it today.

Mrs. Mahon

Further to the point of order—

Mr. Speaker

No—I am sorry, the hon. Lady's argument is not with me. She will have to find other ways to take it up.

Mrs. Mahon

Further—

Mr. Speaker

No. I cannot hear it.

  1. BILLS PRESENTED
      2. cc1050-1
    1. NUTRITIONAL LABELLING OF FOOD 72 words
      2. c1051
    2. ANTI-LITTER (RING-PULL CANS) 74 words
    c1051
  2. STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS, &c. 23 words