§ Mr. Patrick McLoughlin (West Derbyshire)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. May I draw your attention to today's Order paper and in particular to Question 4? You were unable to call the hon. Member who had tabled it, because he was not present. I understand that there can be reasons for hon. Members not to be present, but would you have any objection to allowing another hon. Member to ask the question if the hon. Member whose name is on the Order Paper is unavailable? If you have no objection, perhaps the matter could be raised with the Procedure Committee.
§ Madam SpeakerOrder. I can answer the point of order, and there can be only one. I would have the strongest possible objection to any hon. Member asking a question that was in another's name. I know that the hon. Member for West Derbyshire (Mr. McLoughlin) really raised the matter to highlight the fact that hon. Members are not always in their places to be called, and I hope that that has strengthened my elbow: I am often very cross when hon. Members do not let my office or Ministers know when they are unable to put their questions.
§ Madam SpeakerThere can be no further point of order. Is this a different point
§ Mr. BanksOn a different point of order, Madam Speaker. My hon. Friend the Member for Wentworth (Mr. Hardy) is in Paris attending a meeting of the Western European Union. No doubt he should have told you that 500 he would not be here, and withdrawn the question; but I think that the House ought to know that he is on parliamentary business elsewhere.
§ Madam SpeakerIrrespective of whether hon. Members are on parliamentary business, I think it right that my office should be told when they are not present to put their questions.
§ Mr. Peter Bottomley (Eltham)rose—
§ Madam SpeakerWe are not having a debate about the matter. Is this a different point of order?
§ Mr. BottomleyOn a different point of order, Madam Speaker. Would it be possible to send Question 4 to the compilers of the "Oxford English Dictionary"? Given the number of car crashes, the spelling "wreckless" ought to be noted.
§ Madam SpeakerHow observant of the hon. Gentleman. I am sure that that will be drawn to the attention of the appropriate authorities.
§ Mr. McLoughlinrose—
§ Madam SpeakerYet another point of order!
§ Mr. McLoughlinOn a point of order, Madam Speaker. I did not mean in any way to criticise the hon. Member for Wentworth (Mr. Hardy); I was merely making the point that the subject matter of the question was particularly important. I do not think that we shall have another chance to discuss it in Home Office questions for some time.
§ Madam SpeakerIndeed. I know that a number of hon. Members were anxious to ask supplementary questions. I entirely understand that the hon. Member for Wentworth (Mr. Hardy) has duties elsewhere, but I repeat that when hon. Members have duties elsewhere, they are aware of the questions that they have tabled, and ought to apologise to the House.