§ Mr. Tony Benn (Chesterfield)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. It has been the custom and practice of the House, certainly while I have been here and, I believe, from time immemorial, that former hon. Members are able to come to the Members' Lobby so that hon. Members may have the opportunity to meet them. You will know that in the recess I invited the president of Sinn Fein to come so that hon. Members could hear directly his proposals— [Interruption.]
§ Madam SpeakerOrder. Hon. Members have to be heard, however unpopular it is thought that their views might be. That will continue to be the case so long as I am Speaker.
§ Mr. BennI invited him so that hon. Members would have the opportunity to hear directly from him the proposals that he and my hon. Friend the Member for Foyle (Mr. Hume) had been discussing during the recess.
You will recall, Madam Speaker, that I came to see you on Monday last week, at your request, and was able to ascertain, as I expected, that there would be no difficulty from the Chair's point of view in his following the practice to which I referred. On Tuesday, immediately following our meeting, and without telling the House, the Home Secretary issued an exclusion order, which was not disclosed to the House, on the day of the debate on Northern Ireland, which was very poorly attended, with only a handful of hon. Members present.
I am not referring to the order, which is a matter for the Government for which they are accountable, but is it not right that the rights of former hon. Members should be respected for the benefit of current hon. Members as there are many who think—and I am one—that we should explore every avenue to end the killing and the horrors which have occurred in Northern Ireland?
§ Madam SpeakerOrder. I can deal with this point of order, thank you very much. What the right hon. Gentleman is confirming is that arrangements have been made to give former hon. Members a right of access to 694 certain parts of the Palace. This right does not of course apply to former Members who, for one reason or another, do not have the right to travel as far as the Palace.
The right hon. Gentleman is really complaining about the actions of the Home Secretary in the performance of his duties. Like all Ministers, the Home Secretary is answerable to the House for everything that he does in his official capacity. The Home Secretary is not responsible to me, and it is not my intention to make any comment on any action that he decides to take.
§ Mr. Alan Duncan (Rutland and Melton)Further to that point of order, Madam Speaker.
§ Madam SpeakerOrder. No further point of order on that matter arises. I have dealt with it.
§ Mr. Duncanrose—
§ Madam SpeakerThere is no further point of order on that matter. Is it a totally different point of order? No, I do not think that it is.
§ Mr. Duncanrose—
§ Madam SpeakerOrder. Let me make it quite clear. If it is a different point of order, I must hear the hon. Member for Rutland and Melton (Mr. Duncan). Is it different?
§ Mr. Duncanindicated assent.
§ Madam SpeakerIn that case I shall hear the hon. Gentleman.
§ Mr. DuncanI was merely seeking your guidance, Madam Speaker, on the question whether, had the Home Secretary not issued the exclusion order, the privileges would have been extended to Gerry Adams, given the fact that he did not take the oath and never took his seat in the House.
§ Madam SpeakerI am saying that it is the Home Secretary who is responsible, and I shall make no further comment on that matter.
We shall now move on to a ten-minute rule motion and again to Mr. Anthony Steen.