§ Mr. Max Madden (Bradford, West)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. You will recall that I have been in correspondence with you in your capacity as president of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association about the monitoring of the elections in Pakistan, which are due to be held on Wednesday this week. You also know that concern has been expressed about the way in which meetings and rallies of political parties in Pakistan, especially the Pakistan People's party, have been banned, and about the way in which the judicial process seems to be manipulated to hamper certain politicians and parties.
Would it be possible for the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association to prepare a report on the way in which the elections have been conducted, as I understand that British diplomats from Islamabad are monitoring the conduct of the elections? It is important that the House has access to full information. In your capacity as president of the CPA, would you agree to ask for a report to be prepared?
§ Mr. SpeakerWhen I received the hon. Member's letter about this matter, I got in touch with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. I am sure that the executive officers of the CPA will have taken note of what he has said.
§ Mr. Simon Hughes (Southwark and Bermondsey)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Is it within your power to protect Members interests in the following respect?
Over the weekend I had occasion to intervene with the immigration authorities on behalf of a constituent who faced deportation. As you will remember, the rules have changed in recent years and some powers are given to officials rather than to Ministers or their private offices. However, for some time yesterday evening the appropriate duty officer was not available, he was taking a break—and of course people must have breaks. Later in the evening no contact could be made with the Minister's private office. Only as a result of the extremely helpful attitude of a senior immigration official was my constituent taken off the aeroplane, although there had been an entirely appropriate request—any hon. Member could have done the same—for intervention to allow consideration of the case for deportation.
Will you, Mr. Speaker, please alert the authorities and the Home Office to the concern that I think you would express on behalf of all hon. Members, that at all times there should be an immediately appropriate channel so that we may communicate and make representations, as we were assured that we should be able to do?
§ Mr. SpeakerI cannot see that that is a matter for me. I sympathise with the hon. Gentleman, but I have never experienced any problem concerning my constituents with the new regulations. Apparently, contact was eventually made with the immigration officials in this case. I am sure that what has been said will have been noted by Ministers.