§ Mr. Dennis Skinner (Bolsover)On a point of order, Madam Speaker.
§ Madam SpeakerLet me open the sitting first.
§ Mr. SkinnerMy Dad used to say, "You're on the plate before the meat."
Madam Speaker, I wonder whether the Government have made any request of you to indicate that at 11 o'clock—the usual time that statements are made—they will make a statement on the humiliation of the rail position this morning, now that the London-Tilbury-Southend line appears to be at the centre of a massive scandal due to the privatisation of British Rail. Surely the humiliation should stop. Can we demand that the Minister will be here to account for himself, and abandon that daft process of privatisation? I have just been informed that my hon. Friends on the Front Bench are making a similar request.
§ Madam SpeakerI have not heard that the Government are seeking to make a statement at 11 o'clock, but of course there is still time for a submission to be made to me.