HC Deb 22 February 1990 vol 167 cc1085-6 4.33 pm
Sir Geoffrey Finsberg (Hampstead and Highgate)

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. At column 836 of Hansard an allegation was made against the Army. I have spoken—

Mr. Speaker

On what date?

Sir Geoffrey Finsberg

I am raising this at the first opportunity, as you know, Mr. Speaker.

I spoke to the hon. Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Vaz) this morning on the telephone to tell him what I proposed to raise. He was content with what I wish to say. Hansard shows that an allegation was made, that a vehicle carrying such a device was travelling through the centre of a major city in Britain and, according to the hon. Gentleman, fell off the back of the lorry."—[Official Report, 20 February 1990; Vol. 167, c. 836.] The hon. Gentleman has made a retraction to the national press, which I am delighted to see. However, Hansard is a record of what has happened in this place, so I must ask how a retraction of those words, which I am sure were uttered in good faith but which turned out to be wholly misplaced, can be effected in Hansard?

Mr. Speaker

This matter arose on Tuesday and was raised again on a point of order yesterday. Although the hon. Gentleman may not have been present, the hon. Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Vaz) was present here, but I do not think that a retraction was called for at the time.

Sir Geoffrey Finsberg

The retraction by the hon. Gentleman who raised this matter does not appear because he was not involved. I am asking how an allegation which he has now said was wholly wrong can be put right by him. I could not raise the matter yesterday for reasons of which you are aware, Mr. Speaker, and I have taken the first proper opportunity—

Mr. Speaker

Order. It may be the first opportunity for the hon. Gentleman, but I regret that he was not here yesterday when the matter could have been raised and when the hon. Gentleman involved could have responded. The hon. Gentleman cannot pursue the matter now. The hon. Member for Leicester, East came to see me last night to inform me that he was leaving for India today.

Mr. Tony Marlow (Northampton, North)

Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. The top of page 119 of "Erskine May" states: The Commons may treat the making of a deliberately misleading statement as a contempt. We do not know whether the statement made by the hon. Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Vaz) earlier this week was deliberately misleading, but we do know that it was misleading. It should be possible for the hon. Gentleman to come to the House to tell us about the statement that he made which put a police operation at risk. We are all concerned about terrorism in this country and—

Mr. Speaker

Order. I cannot help the hon. Gentleman. He cannot raise the matter now. It should have been raised at the proper time. This happened on Tuesday.

Mr. Tony Banks (Newham, North-West)

As you are aware, Mr. Speaker, from time to time the opportunity arises for hon. Members of all parties to earn an honest crust outside this place. I have an opportunity to get myself a fiver. It arises from an offer made in Private Eye. If someone can find out who is circulating copies of a Central Office publication on the National Health Service, called "Our Ace of Hearts", using House of Commons stationery, which is something upon which you, Mr. Speaker, have remarked in the past, which is being circulated in West Sussex, Private Eye will pay a fiver. I should like you to order an inquiry so that we can find out who—

Mr. Speaker

Order.

Mr. Banks

—and I shall share the fiver with you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker

Order. It is some time since I have seen that admirable publication. I do not know anything about that matter.