§ Ms Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent, North)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. Have you received any request from the Secretary of State for Transport to make a statement about what seems to be a significant oil pollution incident in parts of Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland, including Wigtown? There appears to be marine diesel fuel and heavy oil involved, and it is crucial that we find out what has happened, because there seems to be no mention of the incident on Lloyd's Register. Can we have a statement on the matter?
§ Madam SpeakerNo Minister has informed me that he is seeking to make a statement today, but of course those on the Treasury Bench will have heard what the hon. Lady said.
§ Mr. Norman Hogg (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. This afternoon, the hon. Member for Aberdeen, South (Mr. Robertson) and the hon. Member for Kincardine and Deeside (Mr. Kynoch) have returned to the smearing of my hon. Friend the Member for Monklands, West (Mr. Clarke) and my right hon. and learned Friend the Leader of the Opposition in relation to Monklands district council.
It ought to be brought to the attention of the House that today's edition of The Herald, a respected newspaper —
§ Madam SpeakerOrder. I should like to hear the hon. Gentleman's point of order for me.
§ Mr. HoggThe point of order is this, Madam Speaker. The House is being constantly abused, and two senior Members of this House are being constantly attacked and smeared by Government Members. The Government auditor for Monklands has now given the council a clearance certificate from the Audit Commission, and there is no basis whatever for allegations of corruption or of improper behaviour.
§ Madam SpeakerOrder. I can deal with the matter. The hon. Gentleman is a long-standing parliamentarian, and I think that he is trying to prolong the debate. As to the hon. Gentleman's remarks on questioning, if the questioning had been out of order, I would have ruled it so. I should like the House to get back to debating policies, and not personalities.
§ Mr. Phil Gallie (Ayr)On a point of order, Madam Speaker.
§ Madam SpeakerOrder. It does not relate to the previous point of order, does it?
§ Mr. GallieNo, Madam Speaker.
§ Madam SpeakerI will take the hon. Gentleman at his word.
§ Mr. GallieIs it permissible for the hon. Member who represents one constituency to mention the name of an industrial complex in the constituency of another hon. 288 Member? If so, was it in order for the hon. Member for Cunninghame, South (Mr. Donohoe) to have hurled abuse at me from a sedentary position?
§ Madam SpeakerOrder. I think that the hon. Gentleman knows the answer to his first question. As he heard me say earlier, the House should get back to policies and leave personalities out of debates.