Points of Order (Hansard, 22 February 1996)

§ Mr. Bryan Davies (Oldham, Central and Royton)
On a point of order, Madam Speaker. I want to raise a gross breach of the conventions of the House and of the way in which we seek to represent our constituents. I have told the hon. Member for Littleborough and Saddleworth (Mr. Davies) that I would raise the matter. I am sorry that he is not in his place.
I have received several complaints from my constituents that personalised letters have been sent to many of them above the signature of the hon. Member for Littleborough and Saddleworth. In addition to containing tendentious Liberal Democrat propaganda, they include a leaflet entitled, "For Help and Advice". Underneath is a photograph and the words, "Chris Davies MP". There was also a questionnaire on local and national matters. A freepost envelope is enclosed with the address "Chris Davies MP", in which the questionnaire can be returned. If the questionnaire is returned, the hon. Gentleman writes to the individual, my constituent, who has corresponded with him. I consider that to be the grossest interference with the rights of my constituents and with my rights as their elected representative.
My constituents are clearly being misled, because the hon. Member for Littleborough and Saddleworth is not their representative and cannot carry out actions in the House on their behalf, as suggested by the material. I ask for your guidance, Madam Speaker, on how I may make progress in ensuring that that activity ceases and that the conventions of the House are upheld.

§ Mr. Robert Sheldon (Ashton-under-Lyne)
Further to that point of order, Madam Speaker. Several hon. Members will be suffering from that problem because of the redistribution of constituency boundaries. I am in a similar position, because my hon. Friend the Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) represents an area that is due to become part of the constituency for which I expect to stand. I have been scrupulous in not contacting his constituents and have referred letters to him because he is the Member of Parliament. I am surprised that the hon. Member for Littleborough and Saddleworth (Mr. Davies) did not pursue the same course.

§ Mr. Barry Field (Isle of Wight)
Further to that point of order, Madam Speaker.

§ Madam Speaker
I did not think that the hon. Gentleman could have such a problem with his constituency.

§ Mr. Field
That is why I rise to make a point of order. I am sure that you would be amazed to know, Madam Speaker, as keeper of good order and discipline in the 520 House, that the Isle of Wight is not subject to boundary redistributions, yet a Liberal Democrat spokesman regularly describes himself as the parliamentary spokesman to the people of the Isle of Wight and sends out questionnaires in that way. That is a total misrepresentation. I very much support the hon. Member for Oldham, Central and Royton (Mr. Davies). The Liberal Democrats are a bunch of poltroons and you should send them out.

§ Madam Speaker
The House will know that I have often given guidance on these matters. Of course, I deprecate the activities of any Member who interferes in such a way in another's constituency. The hon. Member for Littleborough and Saddleworth (Mr. Davies) is a relatively new Member. Hon. Members should be mature and sensible enough to resolve such matters among themselves. I see that the Liberal Democrat Whip is in his place and has heard the exchanges. I am sure that he will use his good offices to ensure that there is no recurrence.

§ Mr. David Winnick (Walsall, North)
On a point of order, Madam Speaker. I wish to ask you a question, arising from what my hon. Friend the Member for The Wrekin (Mr. Grocott) said, about Monday's business and vote.
It is important that people outside understand what we mean and how we vote. As I understand it, Madam Speaker—you will correct me if I am wrong—if a vote is on a Government motion for the Adjournment, the usual practice, although it may not be followed on Monday, is that the Government vote against that motion, in order to protect their business, so presumably on Monday we shall vote for the motion.
To many people, that is an almost Alice-in-Wonderland position, which they do not understand, and one can hardly blame them. I wonder whether many Members of the House, who may not be present, understand the technicalities.
Of course you are not, and cannot be, responsible for which motions are tabled, Madam Speaker, but the fact that there will not be a proper Government motion regarding the Scott report, and that there will be a technical motion, will cause difficulties and confusion, not necessarily in the House—with the Whips about and so on—but to millions of people outside. Such people have a duty, which they carry out, to want to know about important public business. Surely they cannot be criticised, and it will certainly look like Alice in Wonderland when the Government move a motion and then vote against it.

§ Madam Speaker
The hon. Gentleman is correct, in that on Monday, if the Opposition wish to oppose the Government, they will vote aye, and the Government will vote no, but I think that the hon. Gentleman, with respect, underestimates our electorate. I think that they know precisely what goes on here. According to my mailbag, I can tell him that that is absolutely correct.