§ Mr. Bob Dunn (Dartford)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. Can you confirm whether you have received an application today for a private notice question on the rail dispute?
§ Madam SpeakerI do not confirm one way or the other whether I have received an application for a private notice question. The hon. Gentleman might care to rephrase his point of order; I shall do my best to be helpful.
§ Mr. DunnCan you confirm, Madam Speaker, that you are in a position to receive an application for a private notice question on the rail dispute? Today, the work and lives of many thousands of my constituents have been disrupted by the actions of a trade union, which all the contenders for the Labour party leadership have signally failed to condemn. [Interruption.]
§ Madam SpeakerOrder. That is not a point of order. Private notice questions must come to my office before 12 o'clock, as I think the entire House is aware.
§ Mr. Bruce Grocott (The Wrekin)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. Would it be helpful for me to instruct the hon. Member for Dartford (Mr. Dunn) on procedure, as he clearly does not understand it? It is well in order for the Government to make a statement on any issue—
§ Madam SpeakerOrder. I want no instruction on how I should behave in the Chair. I have just informed the House that private notice questions are looked at by me at 12 o'clock, and decisions are then made.
§ Mr. Anthony Coombs (Wyre Forest)On a point of order, Madam Speaker.
§ Madam SpeakerIs it related?
§ Mr. CoombsNo, Madam Speaker, it is an entirely different point of order. Given the craven attitude of Opposition Members to the rail unions that have caused such enormous—
§ Madam SpeakerOrder.
§ Mr. Coombsrose—
§ Madam SpeakerOrder. The hon. Gentleman will resume his seat immediately, or I shall name him. I am tired of listening to points of order that are not points of order, and of the way in which points of order are abused in the House.
§ Mr. Coombsrose—
§ Madam SpeakerOrder. The hon. Gentleman will resume his seat. If he has a point of order for me to deal with which does not refer to the behaviour of other hon. Members, I will listen to it, but I will listen to it only if it concerns me as Speaker. The hon. Gentleman must now determine how he will behave following that warning.
§ Mr. CoombsMy point of order does relate to your duties as Speaker, Madam Speaker. I was going to ask whether the attitude of Opposition Members to the rail unions—which is not unrelated to the fact that many of them are sponsored by trade unions, and in particular by the rail unions—ought not, in the circumstances, be referred—[Interruption.]
§ Madam SpeakerOrder. The hon. Gentleman is well aware that that is not a point of order for me. He has totally abused my faith in him. Now may we get on with the procedures of the House?