HC Deb 26 April 1993 vol 223 c727 3.30 pm
Rev. Martin Smyth (Belfast, South)

On a point of order, Madam Speaker. Have you had a request to allow a Government statement to the House on the apparent change of Government policy as enunciated by the Prime Minister—that this House has sovereignty over the four areas of the United Kingdom—to that which appears in a German magazine and attributed to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, which suggests there will be a change of sovereignty in Northern Ireland? What message does that contain for the murderers of David Martin and the bombers of Bishopsgate?

Madam Speaker

I have not had a request from a Minister to make a statement today.

Mr. Derek Enright (Hemsworth)

On a point of order, Madam Speaker. Is it not an insult to this House that, in debating overseas development and asking questions of Ministers, we have but 10 minutes occasionally and then get only an understudy, not the real thing? Have the Government proposed to do something about that?

Madam Speaker

Any Minister from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is welcome here to answer questions on overseas development. If the hon. Gentleman wants further time for questions, he must pursue that with his own party through the usual channels and the Leader of the House.