§ 4.6 pm
§ Mr. Max Madden (Bradford, West)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. I wish to raise a matter of which I have given you notice. A document has been passed to me headed "Parliamentary Question by Max Madden MP", signed by an entry clearance officer in the British high commission in Nigeria, dated 17 February 1995. On the second page, under the heading:
Not for inclusion in draft reply",considerable concern is expressed by the entry clearance officer thatwe may face criticism on the handling of this application.It goes on to catalogue unacceptable delays and inexplicable failures of routine procedures. It speculates about action that I might take and that which may be taken by solicitors.I shall certainly suggest to my constituent that he consider making a complaint of maladministration to the Parliamentary Commissioner, but I wonder whether you, Madam Speaker, would be prepared—clearly, you have not had the opportunity to consider the detail—to deprecate in general terms any actions that are taken by officials or Ministers which are clearly designed to conceal maladministration and to treat Members of Parliament, our constituents and the general public with clear and obvious contempt.
§ Madam SpeakerThat is barely a point of order for me, but the hon. Gentleman was kind enough to give me just a little indication of what he might raise. He tells me that he was concerned about the advice given by officials to Ministers at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in drafting the reply to a parliamentary question. As the hon. Gentleman knows, the Chair has no responsibility for ministerial answers to questions, still less for officials' advice to Ministers. I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will pursue the matter with the Minister involved. As I said, it is barely a point of order, but the point that he has brought to the attention of the House today is very revealing.
§ Sir Patrick Cormack (Staffordshire, South)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. I have just been out to check the tape, following the exchanges that took place earlier. It would appear from the tape that at 4 pm President Yeltsin was alive.
§ Madam SpeakerI am sure that the House is pleased to have that news. We are always too much interested in bad news. It is nice to have a little good news for a change.