Question Time (Hansard, 29 January 1990)

§ Mr. Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow)
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. One of the casualties of the practice of taking points of order arising out of questions is the opportunity for Ministers, with the total understanding and good will of the House, correcting themselves on points of fact. It is a bit difficult to raise a point of order one and a quarter hours later. It is within your recollection, Mr. Speaker, that my right hon. Friend the Member for Chesterfield (Mr. Benn) very properly asked the Energy Minister about his former press secretary, the Prime Minister's—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. He may have done, but what has it to do with me as a matter of order in the House?

§ Mr. Dalyell
It has to do precisely with the practice of Ministers correcting themselves on points of fact. I shall not go into the substance of the issue. I simply draw your attention to the fact that, when the Minister of State said that he knew nothing of the matter, very overtly and within the sight of us all, the Secretary of State passed him what was clearly a ministerial note on it. That was understandable, because it would have been quite incredible had Energy Ministers not known about the actions of BNFL in sponsoring a highly paid civil servant.

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. This is clearly a continuation of Question Time. I cannot take points of order arising out of answers. It is not a matter for me; it is a matter for the Government or for the right hon. Gentleman to have it put right.

§ Mr. Dalyell
Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker.

§ Mr. Speaker
What can be further to it? It is not a point of order.

§ Mr. Dalyell
It is a point of order.

§ Mr. Speaker
No. It is not a point of order which I can answer.