§ Mr. Greville Janner (Leicester, West)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. I understand that, at a time when unemployment by the Government's figures is just under 2.5 million and, in reality, probably a million more, the Government are proposing to scrap the Department of Employment. Is it in order for any Government to take such a step without first consulting the House or at least having the courtesy to make a statement to the House? Have you received any request for such a statement?
Secondly, I have honour to be the Chairman of the Select Committee on Employment. [HON. MEMBERS: "Ah."] Hon. Members may say," Ah", but we all recognise why they propose to dispose of the Department; they do not like it. Does there not have to be a change in Standing Orders to achieve that? If so, Madam Speaker, have you had any notification of such a request? Is it not clear that the betrayal of unemployed people by removing the only Department of State that is concerned with jobs will not he forgiven by anyone who is unemployed or likely to become unemployed under this regime?
§ Madam SpeakerThe matter that concerns me is the hon. and learned Gentleman's point about whether there needs to be a change in Standing Orders. If what the hon. Gentleman suspects is correct, there must be a change in Standing Orders.
To answer his other points, I have not been informed that a Minister is seeking to make a statement on that matter. As the hon. and learned Gentleman and the House know, changes in departmental and ministerial affairs are not a matter for me. He might care to seek to catch my eye at a time when either the Prime Minister or the Leader of the House is at the Dispatch Box.
§ Mr. Michael Fabricant (Mid-Staffordshire)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. As a new boy, may I ask whether you could explain whether there is any hope, if a Ministry is abolished, that the Select Committee covering it will be abolished, too?
§ Madam SpeakerI refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave a moment ago.
§ Mr. Dennis Skinner (Bolsover)There is a matter that concerns you, Madam Speaker, in that the existence of Departments results in questions being put to the responsible Ministers. As you know, Members of Parliament are required to table a fortnight beforehand oral questions to the Department of Employment, the Department of Trade and Industry or other Ministries that may be affected by the reshuffle. In view of that, I ask you to make further inquiries, so that the House and Back-Bench Members of Parliament who table questions know whether it is in order to table Employment questions.
Finally, it is pretty clear that the new Deputy Prime Minister has shut the pits, shut most of the shipyards and is now shutting down the Government.
§ Madam SpeakerThat is hardly a point of order for me.
§ Mr. Jacques Arnold (Gravesham)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. For the past seven years, we have enjoyed a one-and-a-half hour Consolidated Fund debate in July on Britain's relations with Latin America. Under 382 the new arrangements, a number of hon. Members of all parties applied for such a debate this July. We could do so only by applying for one of the Wednesday morning debates, for which, we have been advised by your office, we were unsuccessful. What steps can we take to ensure that, in July, the House debates this important part of the world as usual, because such debates are for the interest of the people of Latin America?
§ Madam SpeakerAs I am sure the hon. Gentleman is aware, that is a matter for the Leader of the House at business questions tomorrow, if the hon. Gentleman is fortunate enough to catch my eye.
§ Mr. Nigel Spearing (Newham, South)Further to the reallocation of the responsibilities of Ministers of the Crown and the action that needs to be taken by the House in the form of a motion or resolution, is it not a fact that such a formal reallocation, which involves the responsibility for answering questions and presenting estimates, expenditure, votes and related matters, cannot take place unless and until a relevant resolution is carried in the House? Is it not also the case that, until that time, the Secretary of State named is responsible until the House decides otherwise?
§ Madam SpeakerMinisters and Government Departments make their own arrangements, but I am as concerned as the hon. Gentleman about this matter. I shall certainly make all inquiries to satisfy myself.
§ Mr. David Shaw (Dover)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. Have you had any request from the Leader of the Opposition to move a vote of confidence or a vote of no confidence in the Government? Is the Leader of the Opposition capable of making a decision, or is he indecisive on this matter?
§ Madam SpeakerThat would not be the procedure. Such a request would be made through the usual channels.
§ Ms Angela Eagle (Wallasey)I note that we are scheduled to have Employment Questions next Tuesday. Indeed, a list has already been drawn up. Can you give any guidance, Madam Speaker, as to what will happen? The Department of Energy has already been subsumed into the Department of Trade and Industry, and if the Department of Employment is to be so subsumed, how are we to ask reasonable questions about the plight of many millions of people in this country?
§ Madam SpeakerAs I attempted to explain in response to the original point of order on that matter, I am not responsible for departmental and ministerial changes. However, I understand the House's concern, and I shall attempt to find out what the position is as soon as I am able to do so.
§ Mr. Andrew Faulds (Warley, East)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. Having been for many years one of the elder statesmen, and not normally needing such a prop as this stick, I had hoped to catch your eye a little earlier. For many, many, many years now, your predecessors have always made a point of asking me to ask some small question during Foreign Affairs questions.
I was very eager this afternoon just to say—I was not going to be difficult—that those of us who have the greatest expectations of British Foreign Secretaries of whatever party have not too much to be dissatisfied with 383 in the right hon. Gentleman, who has just disappeared for the last time from the Chamber as Foreign Secretary. We wish him well; we respect his manner of going, which is the honourable sort of thing that we would have expected him to do; and we much regret his departure.
§ Madam SpeakerI am delighted to hear the hon. Gentleman's comments, but, as Speaker, I have never prompted any hon. Member to ask questions on a particular day. Far be it from me to do so—I have sufficient competition at Question Time without prompting hon Members.