§ Mr. D. N. Campbell-Savours (Workington)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Today—perhaps the Leader of the House would listen to what I have to say—I gave the right hon. Gentleman the opportunity to explain the position about the tabling of oral and written questions by Ministers, who make up approximately 100 Members of the House of Commons. Unfortunately, in a flippant reply, he refused to advise the House and the country about the position. Perhaps, in the absence of a proper reply from the Leader of the House, you, Mr. Speaker, might care to explain the position to the House.
§ Mr. SpeakerI thought that the hon. Member asked for a statement next week on that matter. When the hon. Gentleman mentioned it to me, I thought that he was referring to our exchanges last week on business questions I think that the whole House knows that there are constraints on Ministers, as there are constraints upon me and upon shadow Ministers, tabling questions, but it is not a matter for me.
§ Mr. Bob Cryer (Bradford, South)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. The Leader of the House suggested that, during a short overlap period when I was also an MEP, I was at a financial advantage because I received one third extra to my parliamentary salary. I placed on the record repeatedly at the time—the Leader of the House has deliberately forgotten that—the fact that that money was given to the Sheffield Labour movement and benefited it I received no advantage from it.
§ Mr. SpeakerI do not think that that is a matter for me either.