Points of Order (Hansard, 1 November 1994)

§ Sir Jim Spicer (Dorset, West)
On a point of order, Madam Speaker. You will recall that during the debate yesterday the right hon. Member for Chesterfield (Mr. Benn) made it clear that, no matter what decisions were taken, either in the House or in the Privileges Committee, he would follow his own course of action. He said that he intended, as he inevitably will, to take a tape recorder into the meeting, to take notes of that meeting and to issue a press release, whether or not that was authorised by the Committee or by the House. In those circumstances, may we look for some advice from you, Madam Speaker, on what action should be taken by the Chairman of that Committee, its members and, indeed, by the House? The very least that should happen is that the Serjeant at Arms should be warned to be outside the door of that meeting room possibly in order to remove the right hon. Gentleman if he persists in that act.

§ Madam Speaker
The hon. Member appears to be answering his own point of order. I do not rule on hypothetical matters. We must wait and see the action taken by the right hon. Member for Chesterfield (Mr. Benn).

§ Sir Peter Emery (Honiton)
Further to that point of order, Madam Speaker.

§ Madam Speaker
There can be no further point of order once I have ruled on it and I have done so.

§ Sir Peter Emery
It is a separate point of order. Is it not the case that it is clear from Standing Order No. 118 that the only time that the publication of Committee proceedings is not a breach of privilege is when the Committee has decided to take evidence in public?

§ Madam Speaker
I do not give advice on such matters. With respect to the right hon. Member, I have already answered the point of order that has been raised on this matter. Much is hypothetical at the moment. I shall rule when it may be necessary to do so.

§ Mr. Peter Butler (Milton Keynes, North-East)
Further to that point of order, Madam Speaker.

§ Madam Speaker
Order. I am on my feet. I will take no further points of order on that matter.

§ Mr. Joseph Ashton (Bassetlaw)
On a point of order, Madam Speaker. I seek your advice on the statement that you have just made. Would it be in order for the House to decide tomorrow to sit in private to discuss The Guardian?

§ Madam Speaker
I am sure that if I suggested that it were, the hon. Member would be the first to oppose me.

§ Mr. Roger Gale (Thanet, North)
Further to your statement, Madam Speaker, will you please confirm that 1352 our discussions tomorrow will not in any way be inhibited by sub judice rules should the editor of The Guardian face criminal charges, as he ought to?

§ Madam Speaker
Again, I am faced with hypothetical questions. This is a very practical House and I hope that I am a very practical Speaker. I deal with matters as they arise—I do not bring out my crystal ball in advance.

§ Sir Peter Emery
On a point of order, Madam Speaker. I was not asking a hypothetical question. I was asking you to rule on whether Standing Order No. 118 makes it absolutely clear that the only time publication of matters being dealt with by a Committee is not a breach of privilege is if the evidence is taken in public. Is that not what Standing Order No. 118 states?

§ Madam Speaker
Standing Order No. 118 is there for every hon. Member to see. I should have thought that the right hon. Member, as Chairman of the Procedure Committee, would know the answer to that one.

§ Mr. Oliver Heald (Hertfordshire, North)
On a point of order, Madam Speaker. Might not a threat of a breach of privilege affect other hon. Members in that they might believe that what they say may be taken down and used outside the Committee?

§ Madam Speaker
Order. I have heard enough of these points of order. We are going to get on with business.

§ Mr. Mike Hall (Warrington, South)
On a point of order, Madam Speaker.

§ Madam Speaker
I hope that it is a quite different point of order.

§ Mr. Hall
You will recall, Madam Speaker, that I secured Question 2 during Prime Minister's Question Time. I asked about VAT on fuel, but the Prime Minister's response was to ask me a question. What redress do I have to enable me to respond to the Prime Minister? Is it Prime Minister's Question Time or is it not?

§ Madam Speaker
We are about to enter a new Session. I suggest that the hon. Member tables many questions to the Prime Minister and I shall try to call him.