§ Mr. Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne, Central)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. Yesterday, the whole House heard a statement by the President of the Board of Trade, indicating the important role of Mr. Gerald James of Astra in exposing the affairs of BMARC. Today, we have no statement from the President of the Board of Trade that he is suspending or withdrawing his politically decided prosecution, under the Companies Act, of Mr. Gerald James and the other directors of Astra. Have you had notice of such a statement?
§ Madam SpeakerI understand that the hon. Gentleman is asking me if I have had notice of any statement by the President of the Board of Trade. The answer is no. I am sure that, if that had been the case, we would all have known about it because it would have been on the annunciator screen by 1 o'clock.
§ Mrs. Alice Mahon (Halifax)Last Friday, we had a debate on the Government's White Paper, "Tackling Drugs Together". Since then, we have seen reports—I am sure that you have seen them, Madam Speaker—of the Royal College of Nursing survey that shows that mental hospitals and patients are becoming a paradise for drug pushing. Given that the Government will make the chief executives of the health authorities responsible for co-ordinating Government policy, is not that a contradiction? Have the Secretary of State for Health or the Home Secretary said whether they will be making a statement about that latest evidence of exploitation?
§ Madam SpeakerThe answer is no. I have had no indication that a statement is to be made.