§ Mr. Robert Hayward (Kingswood)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I do not want to take up Plaid Cymru's time, and I apologise for dashing in and out of the Chamber this afternoon. However, I have received news that Avon county council has lent £6 million to Western Isles county council. Clearly, the ramifications of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International affair are more extensive than previously thought. Would it be appropriate to raise the matter during next week's Consolidated Fund debate? Is there, indeed, any means of raising it sooner than that?
§ Mr. SpeakerThe Consolidated Fund debate is a wide one. If the hon. Gentleman submitted a subject, I would consider it carefully.
§ Ms. Marjorie Mowlam (Redcar)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. The Financial Times and The Wall Street Journal report this morning that, in March and October last year, the Bank of England had prima facie evidence of fraudulent documentation at BCCI. On 8 and 15 July this year, the Economic Secretary to the Treasury told the House that the Treasury had known nothing until June. Should he not return to the Chamber immediately to clarify that statement?
§ Mr. SpeakerI cannot be expected to adjudicate on what Ministers say at the Dispatch Box. There are other methods of raising the matter—possibly during the Consolidated Fund debate.
§ Mr. Graham Riddick (Colne Valley)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Are you aware that the parliamentary Labour party voted this morning for the House not to sit on Fridays? Labour Members voted for a four-day week: they voted to become part-time Members of Parliament. [Interruption.]
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder.
§ Mr. RiddickI am just coming to my point of order, Mr. Speaker.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. We are under great pressure today, and I am not a member of any party.
§ Mr. RiddickMay I just ask you to assure me, Mr. Speaker, that you will do all in your power to protect the interests of Back Benchers, so that we do not lose time and business on Fridays?
§ Mr. SpeakerI will give the hon. Gentleman that guarantee. It is my constant desire to protect Back Benchers' interests, and that is what I am anxious to do this afternoon—to protect the interests of Plaid Cymru Back Benchers, whose debate is to follow.
§ Mr. Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday, with the widespread approval of hon. Members, you made very clear your view about ministerial statements in the House, which is reported fully in this morning's press. Can you persuade the Foreign Secretary —who made a speech yesterday about some very important matters relating to this country's participation 369 in military action—to come to the House, possibly on Friday, when I understand that the Prime Minister is coming?
This is especially important in the light of the frantic appeals from the United Nations Children's Fund and Robert Smith, and those of Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan on behalf of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, about the position in Iraq, where people who have been bombed into the stone age in certain areas may simply be eliminated.
§ Mr. SpeakerI am sure that the Leader of the House, who is sitting on the Front Bench, has heard what the hon. Gentleman has said. It is not for me to require Ministers to come here; yesterday was a rather special case. There will be other opportunities for the hon. Gentleman to raise the matter next week, such as the summer Adjournment debate, the Consolidated Fund debate and the last day of the Session, next Thursday. There is plenty of scope.
§ Mr. John Home Robertson (East Lothian)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. May I ask you to examine the rather injudicious words used by the Secretary of State for Defence at the beginning of his statement, when he was explaining why he did not make that statement yesterday? As a humble and simple Back Bencher, I have no idea what went on within the usual channels or what led to the planted question that was asked yesterday. I find it surprising, however, that the Secretary of State should say today that he was effectively prevented by the Opposition from making an oral statement. Can you confirm, Mr. Speaker, that any Minister of the Crown has the right to apply to you to make an oral statement in the House, and that that is what should have happened yesterday?
§ Mr. SpeakerThat is true. Ministers sometimes come to me to ask whether they may make statements, but the lesson of yesterday is that I, too, was left out of this equation. I think that things might have been very different if I had been brought into it.
§ Mr. D. N. Campbell-Savours (Workington)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.
§ Mr. SpeakerWell, finally.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursI am sorry, but I have just heard my hon. Friend the Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell) say that the Prime Minister intends to make a statement on Friday on the G7 summit. Can I put it to you that you should protest on behalf of many hon. Members, who find it extremely difficult to be here on a Friday? It can take as 370 long as six hours for us to return to our constituencies. It completely destroys Friday as a day in our constituencies. It is wrong that important business should be—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I really do not think that the House of Commons can be run for the convenience of some hon. Members. If the discussions end on Thursday, perhaps the Prime Minister should come here at the first opportunity to make a statement. I have not previously heard that he intended to do so. It has not so far been communicated to me officially.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursFurther to that point of order, Mr. Speaker.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I cannot take it.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursBut you let—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The hon. Gentleman must ask about it tomorrow during business questions.
§ Mr. Campbell-Savoursrose—
§ Mr. SpeakerIt is not a matter for me. Ask about it, please, during business questions tomorrow.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursYou have repeatedly, Mr. Speaker—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I repeat that the hon. Gentleman should ask about it at business questions tomorrow. It is not a matter for me.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker.
§ Mr. SpeakerNo, please sit down.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursYou have repeatedly said to the House—
§ Mr. SpeakerPlease sit down. The hon. Gentleman is taking time away from other hon. Members.
§ Mr. Campbell-Savoursrose—
§ Mr. SpeakerSit down, please! There are plenty of other opportunties to raise this matter. It is not a matter for me.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursIt is all right having a constituency in Croydon. Mine is in Workington.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Ten-minute Bill—Mr. Phillip Oppenheim.