§ Mr. Stuart Bell (Middlesbrough)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. Over the past two years, you have been vigilant on behalf of the legislature in holding the Executive to account in the House. Last week, the Department of Trade and Industry modified its policy in relation to naming an individual who is subject to investigation for insider trading. We are advised that there will be a further statement on the same subject this week by the Under-Secretary of State for Corporate Affairs, the hon. Member for Tatton (Mr. Hamilton). Would not it be right and appropriate for such a statement to be made on the Floor of the House so that the Executive can be held accountable to us all?
§ Madam SpeakerThe whole House knows my views on how, why and by what methods the Executive should be held to account on behalf of the people of this country through the House—but I have not been told whether a statement is to be made this week or at any other time.
§ Mr. Bill Walker (Tayside, North)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. You will have heard of the stories that appeared in The Sunday Times about a confidence trickster who came to the Palace of Westminster. I would describe him as an agent provocateur. Would the correct procedure for any hon. Member—
§ Madam SpeakerOrder. I think that I can deal with this matter—I believe that I know the point that the hon. Gentleman wants to raise. I make it clear to the House that anyone who alleges that a breach of privilege has occurred should write to me without delay. I assure the House that I already have that matter under urgent and active consideration. I shall report to the House as soon as I can. The House will be the first to hear my statement. We must proceed.
§ Madam SpeakerI will take no further points of order on that matter. Is it a totally different point of order?
§ Mr. RiddickOn a point of order, Madam Speaker.
§ Madam SpeakerOrder. Is it a different point of order?
§ Mr. RiddickYes, Madam Speaker. May I voice my strong support for the suggestion that an inquiry is set up into the—
§ Madam SpeakerOrder. I have heard quite enough. I made my views known to the House. I repeat that I have the matter under urgent and active consideration. The House will know my views as soon as I have reached a decision.
§ Mr. Riddickrose—
§ Madam SpeakerOrder. I will accept no further points of order on that matter.
§ Madam SpeakerOrder. I am on my feet. I call Mr. Connarty.
§ Mr. ConnartyOn a point of order, Madam Speaker. During Scottish Question Time last Wednesday, 6 July, as 682 reported in column 304 of Hansard, the hon. Member for Ayr (Mr. Gallie) asked a question about power. I noticed that in the Register of Members' Interests that Member is paid a consultancy fee by Scottish Power and has a car from that company. My point of order is that Members should enter in the register the amount of money that they get—
§ Madam SpeakerOrder. At Question Time hon. Members do not have to divulge their interests. I thought that that was known by the entire House.
§ Mr. ConnartyThey should.
§ Madam SpeakerIn that case, the hon. Gentleman must raise the matter with the Select Committee on Procedure.
§ Mr. Campbell-Savoursrose—
§ Madam SpeakerIs it a different point of order?
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursIt is, Madam Speaker. Will you rule on a contradiction between two resolutions—a contradiction that will not be dealt with in any announcement that you might make to the House at any stage on the issue of privilege? One resolution was carried in 1695 and states that the House of Commons resolved that
the offer of money, or other advantage, to any Member of Parliament for the promoting of any matter whatsoever, depending or to be transacted In Parliament is a high crime and misdemeanour"—
§ Madam SpeakerOrder. The hon. Gentleman has been in the House long enough to know that Speakers do not give procedural advice across the Floor of the House. If the hon. Gentleman writes to me, I shall be happy to give him the best possible advice, but I shall not proceed with the matter now. I have made my decision and that is final.
§ Mr. Campbell-Savoursrose—
§ Madam SpeakerOrder. The hon. Gentleman must resume his seat.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursOn what basis does—
§ Madam SpeakerOrder. It appears that the hon. Gentleman is concerned about a procedural matter—a matter that he alone is concerned about. He does not know what my eventual ruling will be. If he writes to me, I will give him procedural advice.
§ Mr. Connartyrose—
§ Madam SpeakerI have already heard a point of order from the hon. Gentleman.
§ Ms Glenda Jackson (Hampstead and Highgate)The chief executive of the Royal Free hospital trust in my constituency issued a statement on Friday, saying that residents of my constituency in the NW5 postal district would be excluded from that hospital's catchment area due to lack of central Government funding. As that flies in the face of the statement by the Secretary of State for Health—
§ Madam SpeakerOrder. That is a totally bogus point of order. That is a matter not for me but for the Executive. It has nothing whatsoever to do with the Speaker of this House.
§ Mr. ConnartyOn a point of order, Madam Speaker. During Scottish Question Time, the hon. Member for 683 Colne Valley (Mr. Riddick) used the terms "corruption" and "dubious practice". In the light of the recent revelations, can you rule—
§ Madam SpeakerOrder. Will the hon. Gentleman resume his seat? I have had enough bogus points of order for today. The House must wait for my ruling.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursOn a point of order, Madam Speaker.
§ Madam SpeakerIs it a different point of order?
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursYou ruled, Madam Speaker, that matters of procedure should be dealt with in writing to you. I have never heard such a ruling from the Chair before in all my 14 years here. I have heard the ruling that matters of privilege should be dealt with in correspondence to the Speaker. Can I protect the rights of Back-Benchers by exercising my right to ask a question on an issue of procedure, not of privilege, and return to the subject of the two resolutions of the House in 1695 and 1974? One is on page—
§ Madam SpeakerOrder. The hon. Gentleman is raising a point of order that is allied to a matter that I have dealt with. I am the first to protect the rights of all Back Benchers and that is what I have done by my decision today. The hon. Gentleman must not pursue that matter.
Let me make one point clear: matters of procedure are not dealt with across the Floor of the House. My predecessors never gave advice across the Floor about the way to proceed. If the hon. Gentleman writes to me, I shall do my utmost to give him the right advice.