Points of Order (Hansard, 21 May 1992)

§ Dr. John Cunningham (Copeland)
On a point of order, Madam Speaker. During business questions, the hon. Member for Dover (Mr. Shaw), who has now left the Chamber, made a typically inaccurate—indeed reckless —comment about the Maxwell pensioners, and about requests by the Opposition for debates and statements. It is a matter of record that not only I but many of my hon. Friends have pressed for debates on the plight of the Maxwell pensioners. Inaccurate allegations such as those made by the hon. Member for Dover have no place in this Chamber, and certainly cannot go unchallenged.

§ Madam Speaker
As the hon. Gentleman knows, that is a matter for debate and not a point of order for the Chair.

§ Mrs. Elizabeth Peacock (Batley and Spen)
On a point of order, Madam Speaker. I ask for your help and reassurance on a matter that was raised in the Chamber on Tuesday this week.
The hon. Member for Leeds, Central (Mr. Fatchett) suggested that, during the general election, I violated House of Commons rules by using House of Commons stationery, notepaper and other such items. I was not aware then that he intended to raise a point of order. I have written to him twice since then asking him to produce the relevant document. I understand that he has failed to produce the document to the Serjeant at Arms or to myself. I reassure you, Madam Speaker, and the House that, as far as I am aware, no House of Commons stationery, envelopes or other items here were used by me or my staff during the general election campaign.

§ Madam Speaker
I allowed the hon. Lady to make her point in this way as there is a delay in the inquiry for which I asked when the original point of order was raised. I expect a report from the Serjeant at Arms in, I hope, the very near future.

§ Mr. Max Madden (Bradford, West)
On a point of order, Madam Speaker. I gave you notice of this point of order earlier today. It concerns my constituent, Mr. Chazanfer Ali, whose plight is described in early-day motion 113. He is a Pakistani national who has lived in Britain for the past 18 years and he is now in prison in Pakistan. Unfortunately, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said that it could not make any inquiries on his behalf, including inquiries on when he is likely to be released and can thus rejoin his wife and family in Bradford, on the ground that he is a Pakistani national.
I wonder whether you, Madam Speaker, would consider—I stress the word "consider"—making an approach on an entirely informal and personal basis, possibly through the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, to the Speaker of the Pakistan National Assembly to make inquiries about why Mr. Ali is being 508 held, whether he has been tried for any offence and, most important of all, when he is likely to be released so that he can rejoin his wife and family in this country.

§ Madam Speaker
The hon. Gentleman's raising the matter on the Floor of the House is hardly an informal or personal approach. The Chair should not be involved in such matters. I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will continue to pursue his inquiries, but he must now do so through other channels.

§ Sir Donald Thompson (Calder Valley)
On a point of order, Madam Speaker. You will have read in column 257 of yesterday's Hansard that my hon. Friend the Member for Lewes (Mr. Rathbone) was accused by the hon. Member for Glasgow, Hillhead (Mr. Galloway) of strolling in here and asking a question five minutes before the end of Question Time. You will remember that the Benches were especially full with prayer cards yesterday. My hon. Friend the Member for Lewes sat next to me for some time—at least 20 minutes—before returning to his place and catching your eye.

§ Mr. Ian Bruce (South Dorset)
Further to that point of order, Madam Speaker. In response to that point of order, reported in yesterday's Hansard at column 258, you said that you took a very dim view of Members who come in at Question Time, catch your eye after a short time— perhaps as much as 20 minutes—and then leave. I seek your guidance on this because, when I am here for an hour during Scottish questions, I am always barracked when I ask a question, which shows that the Opposition do not want questions to be asked. My hon. Friend the Member for Lewes (Mr. Rathbone) specifically came to ask a question about fishing and he managed to catch your eye. The question was relevant to his constituents because a quota given to Scottish fishermen can be used off the waters of Lewes. Should Members be able to come into the House just to ask a particular question and stay only for that question?

§ Madam Speaker
I am not in the business of dealing with points of order retrospectively. It is absolutely right that hon. Members should show an interest in the subjects that arise in Question Time and should be here for a little while before their question and for some time after it. That is a matter of courtesy to the Chair, the House and other right hon. and hon. Members.

§ Mr. Paul Tyler (Cornwall, North)
On a point of order, Madam Speaker. What is your attitude to a ministerial statement on Friday, in the light of the latest news from Brussels that an accord has been reached? Do you intend to allow a statement to be made on that tomorrow?

§ Madam Speaker
Let me try to help the hon. Gentleman. The Speaker does not initiate ministerial statements. The Government tell the Speaker when they want to make a statement. Once that is known, the Speaker is at the disposal of the House to hear the statement. That is our procedure.