Points of Order (Hansard, 24 October 1989)

§ Mr. Harry Ewing (Falkirk, East)
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I apologise for raising this point of order, which arises from the exchange that has just taken place. What is the purpose of a statement being made to the House of Commons when the Secretary of State has just admitted that he had information in his possession which he deliberately withheld from the House in order to inflame an already highly inflammable situation? Surely what has happened in the past half hour has been, first, a waste of the time of the House and, secondly, a deliberate misleading of the House by the Secretary of State.

§ Mr. Speaker
That is not what I heard the Secretary of State say. As he rose, he said that he had received a message that the management hoped to be able to achieve agreement. I hope that the House will accept that that decision, in the interests of our constituents, is a hopeful one.

§ Mr. John P. Smith (Vale of Glamorgan)
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker——

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. Today is an Opposition day when many hon. Members wish to speak.

§ Mr. Smith
It is not my intention to delay the proceedings of the House, Mr. Speaker, but, as I am a new Member, I wonder whether you can help me. It appears that the Ministry of Defence has refused me permission to hold constituency surgeries on the RAF camp in my constituency, which has a large community. I believe that service families have the right to the same access to their Member of Parliament as other citizens. I also believe that a United States Congress man or woman has the right to take up his or her constituents' complaints on a United States military base in this country. Can you help me, Mr. Speaker, and rule on this matter?

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. That is not a decision that I can take. I hope that, since the hon. Gentleman has raised the matter in the Chamber, it has been heard by the Leader of the House and others and that some solution may be found to his problem.

§ Mr. Jeremy Corbyn (Islington, North)
rose——

§ Mr. Speaker
I shall call the hon. Gentleman, but. I repeat that a large number of right hon. and hon. Members want to take part in the Opposition day debate.

§ Mr. Corbyn
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. You will be aware that, last Thursday, the Guildford Four were acquitted at the High Court. Could you tell me how I can best raise in the House with the Northern Ireland Secretary, the treatment that Gerard Conlon is receiving? He is being harassed by Royal Ulster Constabulary officers in his street and today he was dragged into a car for questioning because he was acquitted last Thursday at the High Court in England.

§ Mr. Speaker
The hon. Gentleman knows that I cannot give him advice of that kind. I am sure that many right hon. and hon. Members on both sides of the House will be able to assist him.