§ Mr. SpeakerI have a short statement to make about arrangements for the debate on the motion for the Adjournment which will follow the passing of the Consolidated Fund (No. 2) Bill on Tuesday 27 March. Members should submit their subjects to my office not later than 9 am on Monday 26 March. A list showing the subjects and the times will be published later that day. Normally the time allotted will not exceed one and a half hours, but I propose to exercise discretion to allow one or two debates to continue for rather longer—up to a maximum of three hours. Where identical or similar subjects have been entered by different Members whose names are drawn in the ballot, only the first name will be shown on the list. As some debates may not last the full time allotted to them, it is the responsibility of Members to keep in touch with developments if they are not to miss their turn.
§ Mr. George Foulkes (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.
§ Mr. SpeakerIf I divine what it is about, I am not sure that I can answer it.
§ Mr. FoulkesI am sure that you will do your best, Sir.
You will have heard the genuine anger from the Leader of the Labour Party, from the shadow Leader of the House, and from spokesmen of all other Opposition parties, about the fact that the Secretary of State for Scotland has not made a statement to the House but, instead, has made a statement to the press. Will you, Mr. Speaker, raise again the question of the Government's ignoring the convention that statements should be made to the House and, instead, briefing the press? Perhaps you, with all your authority, can do something about it.
May I ask you, Sir, also to use your good offices to ensure that, if we cannot have a statement, the Secretary of State for Scotland might be allowed to speak from the 1252 Dispatch Box in the Budget debate to explain why he has made this amazing U-turn? As my hon. Friend the Member for East Lothian (Mr. Home Robertson) has said, the Secretary of State has today acceded to a claim that yesterday he described as bogus. Can you use your influence to have the Secretary of State brought to the Dispatch Box? He is not usually reluctant to come to the Dispatch Box; indeed, he is normally very enthusiastic. Can you ensure that that enthusiasm is channelled?
§ Mr. SpeakerWho speaks from the Dispatch Box is not a matter for me. As to the press being briefed before hon. Members are briefed in the House, the whole House knows my strong feelings.
§ Mrs. Margaret Ewing (Moray)Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. I emphasise that this is the third occasion on which the Secretary of State for Scotland has shown gross discourtesy to hon. Members and, through them, to their constituents. After all, it is our constituents whom we are elected to represent. Particular issues are the future of lowland airports, the distribution of fishing quotas—a vital matter in Scotland—and now cash limits under the community charge regulations. It seems that this discourtesy is becoming a matter of policy that is exercised by the Scottish Office.
These back-door announcements cannot be tolerated by Members, who are democratically elected to look after their constituents' interests. I ask you, Mr. Speaker, as the protector of Back-Bench Members, to raise the matter directly with the Leader of the House, the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Prime Minister, who was obviously finding great difficulty in responding to questions on the issue this afternoon.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Lady knows that that is not a matter for me. Undoubtedly her remarks will have been heard by the Leader of the House. I remind the hon. Lady that there will be opportunities to raise the matter during the Easter Adjournment debate and during Scottish questions on Wednesday.