§ Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. The Leader of the House said on television yesterday that the reason why there had been problems in European Standing Committee A was that some Members of Parliament held views on Europe that are contrary to his. That was the second time that that allegation had been made, and hon. Members who volunteered to serve on that Committee deeply resent the suggestion that, because the Government brought before it documents that they had already accepted and voted on, members of the Committee were wrong to challenge what they said. I hope that he will apologise.
§ Mr. SpeakerSadly, I was not chairing that television performance, so I do not know what went on. However, I am sure that what the hon. Lady has said will be passed on to the Leader of the House.
§ Mr. Robert G. Hughes (Harrow, West)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.
§ Mr. SpeakerIs it a different point of order?
§ Mr. HughesYes, Mr. Speaker. There has been a recent revelation about what can only be described as a sinister dining club which is inhabited by some hon. Members—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I do not belong to any sinister dining clubs.
§ Mr. Hughesrose—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I have a dinner tonight, but I am certainly not responsible for any sinister dining club.
§ Mr. HughesI am delighted to hear, Mr. Speaker, that you are not a member of any sinister dining club. That is extremely reassuring, because I think that this is a matter for you. This sinister dining club seems to have some influence on Labour party policy. If that is not the case, I wonder whether you could refer this matter to the Committee on the Register of Members' Interests.
§ Mr. SpeakerIt is quite clear that that is way beyond my responsibility, as was the point of order by the hon. Member for Crewe and Nantwich (Mrs. Dunwoody).
§ Mr. HughesFurther to that point of order.
§ Mr. SpeakerNo.
§ Mr. Robert Hughes (Aberdeen, North)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.
§ Mr. SpeakerI hope that it is a point of order that I can deal with.
§ Mr. HughesAs you have the protection of Back-Benchers very much in mind, Mr. Speaker, can you do something to stop the hon. Member for Harrow, West (Mr. Hughes) bringing the family name into disrepute?
§ Mr. Brian Wilson (Cunninghame, North)On a point of order Mr. Speaker. In the light of what we have heard today, could you give us some guidance about planted questions at Prime Minister's Question Time, and prime ministerial responses? What we have heard today shows that there was a planted question last Thursday and an utterly misleading—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I cannot accept that. I have heard the term, but I do not know anything about it.
§ Mr. Kenneth Hind (Lancashire, West)On a point of order Mr. Speaker.
§ Mr. SpeakerWe must get on with the Bill.
§ Mr. HindThe question that was asked was asked by the Father of the House and, if I remember correctly, it was a supplementary. It did not appear on the Order Paper. The hon. Member for Cunninghame, North (Mr. Wilson) has uttered a calumny against the Father of the House, and he should withdraw his allegation.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. No, it is nothing to do with me.