HC Deb 03 February 1995 vol 253 cc1385-6

Order for Second Reading read.

Hon. Members

Object.

Second Reading deferred till Friday 10 February.

Mr. Eric Martlew (Carlisle)

On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Is it in order for a Cabinet Minister—the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food—to send his parliamentary private secretary to the House to organise a filibuster to block my private Member's Bill? Is that not contempt of the House?

Mr. Deputy Speaker

It is quite in order; otherwise I should have ruled it out of order.

Mr. Tom Cox (Tooting)

Further to that point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. We have just witnessed what many hon. Members, irrespective of their party, believe to be a shambles. There was clearly a great deal of support for the Olympic Symbol etc. (Protection) Bill. Will you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, bring the matter to Madam Speaker's attention on Monday? She, like you, looks after the interests of Back Benchers and should be made aware of what has happened.

Mr. Deputy Speaker

I assure the hon. Gentleman that Madam Speaker will not have to wait until Monday.

Mr. Dennis Skinner (Bolsover)

Further to that point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. As the Bill has just been carried with no votes against it and it was well noted yesterday that it had the support of every party in the House and was likely to be nodded through in a few seconds, is it not disgraceful that the Tory Government—the Whips and all the rest—have put a gag on our people who wanted to talk about the export of calves? They did so when millions of people in Britain are protesting about it. That shows up the Government for what they are—it stinks to high heaven—

Mr. Deputy Speaker

Order. That is not a point of order for the Chair, and the hon. Gentleman knows it.

Mr. Jacques Arnold (Gravesham)

Further to that point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Is it in order for an hon. Member to make a totally unsubstantiated allegation—

Mr. Deputy Speaker

Order. I have finished with bogus points of order.

Mrs. Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley)

On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker.

Mr. Deputy Speaker

I am sorry—I call Mrs. Clwyd.

Mrs. Clwyd

On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I rise to ask your guidance on a matter of great concern to many people in south Wales. I should normally have made my point of order under Standing Order No. 20 but, as you know, I am precluded from doing so on a Friday.

The reason for my point of order is the casualty department in the Prince Charles hospital in Merthyr, which is a matter of concern to my hon. Friend the Member for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney (Mr. Rowlands) and me. Its patients have been told not to go to the casualty department because of a shortage of doctors. The casualty rota for the next few days has blank spaces, which means that there are no doctors on duty. May we have a statement on the subject next week?

Mr. Deputy Speaker

That is not a matter for the Chair, but I am sure that the those sitting on the Front Bench will have taken notice.