§ Mr. George Foulkes (Carrick, Cummock and Doon Valley)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Is it within your power to draw the Prime Minister's attention to the fact that his first responsibility is to the House of Commons, that there is a Prime Minister's Question Time every Tuesday and Thursday and that we have a Foreign Secretary and a Secretary of State for Defence who are quite able to deal with international and defence commitments overseas? The Prime Minister should be here at Prime Minister's Question Time—or is he afraid of the Leader of the Opposition?
§ Mr. SpeakerThat is patently not a point of order for me.
§ Mr. FoulkesBut it is.
§ Mr. SpeakerOf course the House of Commons is important, but the interests of the nation are equally important.
§ The Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. John MacGregor)Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. It is right to say to the House and to the nation that the Prime Minister is presently with the President of the United States and the Heads of State of most European Governments and others. They are discussing important matters which affect the future defence not only of this country but of the western world. I think that the vast majority of the nation would expect my right hon. Friend to be there with the other leaders.