§ Mr. Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. I wonder whether I could draw your attention to Question 120 on the Order Paper for today. This is a question by the hon. Member for Erith and Crayford (Mr. Evennett) to the Secretary of State for the Environment in connection with the proposed east Thames corridor development. I have been to the Library as recently as five minutes ago, and there was no copy of that reply there, although I understand that members of the press either have the full substantive reply or, certainly, have received a press notice which I have in front of me now, saying that the Secretary of State for the Environment will be announcing "the Government's approach" to the proposals for the east Thames corridor at a press conference at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning at the Department of the Environment.
The point I wish to raise with you, Madam Speaker, is that it seems on the face of it, to say the least, that people outside Parliament are going to be briefed about the Government's proposals for the east Thames corridor before this place is briefed, and that, unusually, a parliamentary reply is not available for hon. Members to see in the Library. Other parliamentary replies which are on today's Order Paper are in the Library.
The press have been told about a press conference tomorrow, and I think that they have probably got a substantive reply. This House is being abused and bypassed by the Secretary of State for the Environment on a major issue affecting hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people along the east Thames corridor in which my constituency is included.
Can I have your help, Madam Speaker? Is this a matter of privilege? Can you get us—
§ Madam SpeakerOrder. I have got the point, thank you very much. Let me assure the House that, if the text of the answer to a parliamentary question has already been supplied to the press, it should also be available to Members of this House. I hope that those who are on the Front Bench at the moment will take note of that and see that it is made immediately available. [Interruption.] Order. I have not finished yet. Hon. Members should not get so excited. As hon. Members know, I would deprecate a Minister making an announcement to the media before making it to the House, but I have also to say to the hon. Gentleman that whether a Minister comes to the Dispatch Box or answers a written Question, is entirely a matter for the Minister, and has nothing whatever to do with the Chair.
§ Mr. Tony Banks (Newham, North-West)Further to that point of order, Madam Speaker.
§ Madam SpeakerI doubt if there can be anything further to that point. I have answered it very thoroughly.
§ Madam SpeakerOrder. I have dealt with it very thoroughly. I have dealt with the written Question which should be available to Members immediately. I have dealt with the matter of deprecating statements made outside, and I have made the point that whether a Minister comes 785 to the Dispatch Box or answers a written Question is entirely a matter for that Minister. There can be no further point of order.
§ Madam SpeakerThere was, but now there is not—is that right?
§ Mr. BanksYou have covered virtually all the points, Madam Speaker, but the Order Paper shows that Question 120 is not the only one that falls into that category. One can only say that there appears there, at the end of Questions, what one can only charitably call the brown nose gang, who are fairly regularly there and are always prepared to put down questions at the behest of Ministers, the night before answer. Is that not something that ought to be referred to the Procedure Committee?
§ Madam SpeakerIf the hon. Member wants to do that, he is entitled to, but I have made the position clear to the House, and I hate to go on repeating myself. Hon. Members often repeat themselves, but it is not for the Speaker of this House to go on repeating herself. But just so that it is made very clear, I should say that it is up to the Minister whether an answer is by a written statement or he comes to the Dispatch Box. That has nothing whatever to do with the Chair. That is the end of it: there can be no further point of order on that matter.
§ Mr. Jeremy Corbyn (Islington, North)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. Can you take a further point?
§ Madam SpeakerNo, I am afraid I cannot. We are now going to move on. There cannot be another point of order. We are going to move on.
§ Mr. Corbynrose—
§ Madam SpeakerOrder. The hon. Gentleman must resume his seat. I have dealt very thoroughly with that matter.