§ Mr. D. N. Campbell-Savours (Workington)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I am sure that you will agree with me when I say that the matter raised by my hon. Friend the Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) should be referred immediately to the National Audit Office and to the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee because it raises matters of public interest.
I am sure that you, Mr. Speaker, will have seen in the national press in the past few days a lot of tittle-tattle about grace and favour offers being made to the former Foreign Secretary to appease his anger. These are not matters on which you would wish to rule, Mr. Speaker, but there is a matter——
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. It is not a question on which I can rule, nor are they matters for me at all.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursAbsolutely, Mr. Speaker, they are not matters for you, but there is a matter for you. I understand that a grace and favour offer of the Speakership was offered to the former Foreign Secretary as part of an effort to keep him quiet. This is a matter——
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I know that we are about to go on holiday, but that is taking it a bit too far.
§ Mr. Campbell-Savoursrose——
§ Mr. SpeakerWe have important business——
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursIt is a point of order, Mr. Speaker.
§ Mr. SpeakerIt must be a matter on which I can rule.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursYou will understand, Mr. Speaker, that the question of the Speakership is a House of Commons matter uniquely. The Speakership is decided upon by Members of Parliament and you were elected by Members of Parliament. Prime Ministers should not interfere. Would you not condemn the practice of any Prime Minister who made an offer of that nature to a former Minister?
§ Mr. SpeakerI know absolutely nothing about matters of that kind.
- BILL PRESENTED
- PUBLIC EXPENDITURE (REGIONAL CONSEQUENCES) 68 words
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