HC Deb 25 October 1989 vol 158 c880
Mr. Gerald Howarth (Cannock and Burntwood)

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker

On a completely different matter, please.

Mr. Howarth

Last night, the hon. Member for Barnsley, Central (Mr. Ilsley) referred to the alleged grievances of the so-called mining group of Members of Parliament who sought to prolong the debate on the Children Bill as part of their dispute with the Chairman of Ways and Means about the Associated British Ports Bill. May I point out to you, Sir, that that group consisted of——

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Gentleman is shooting himself in the foot. This is not the occasion to be pointing out matters to me. He is raising a point of order. I have already said that this is not a matter of order for the Chair. The hon. Gentleman has heard what the Leader of the House said about it. We have a very heavy day before us; let us see how we get on.

Mr. Howarth

Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker

No, I am not taking it. I shall take the point of order from the hon. Member for Cambridgeshire, South-East (Mr. Paice).

Mr. James Paice (Cambridgeshire, South-East)

Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. In your earlier remarks on the happenings of last night, you specifically——

Mr. Speaker

Order. I am not pursuing that matter. We have heard what the Leader of the House said about it, and as far as I am concerned, in terms of order, nothing more arises.

Mr. Tony Marlow (Northampton, North)

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker

So long as it is not on the matters that we have already discussed.

Mr. Marlow

It is not directly on it, but it is related. It is to do with the Statutory Instruments Committee. The point was made by my hon. Friend the Member for Southend, East (Mr. Taylor). I understand that some of this subject was covered by a meeting of a Statutory Instruments Committee yesterday at 4 o'clock. Is the report of that Committee available or not, because if it is not available, as my right hon. and learned Friend the Leader of the House is here, he might consider, in view of what you said and what my hon. Friend said, that it would be appropriate to delay any such debate until a later date, at which time that report may be available.

Mr. Speaker

The Committee did not draw the attention of the House to the statutory instrument. As to what the hon. Gentleman said, I am sure that it will have been heard by the Leader of the House.