§ Mr. George Galloway (Glasgow, Hillhead)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. In view of your strictures just yesterday about the use of foul and abusive language in the Chamber, I should like to hear your views on the foul and abusive term used by the Secretary of State for Scotland—the disparaging, racist term of pigmy, which will have caused great offence to many people. Not being tall, dark and handsome himself, one would have thought that he would have taken more care in the use of the word, which was intended and was always used as a disparaging reference to a proud, independent African people who live in southern and central Africa. The use of the term pigmy in that offensive way is racist, and I hope that you will cause the Secretary of State for Scotland to withdraw it.
§ Madam SpeakerI heard the word used and the context in which it was used. Had I thought it unparliamentary at the time, I would have asked the Member concerned to withdraw it, as I always do. I remind the House that the English language is very rich, and I simply caution all hon. Members—whether they are Front Benchers or Back Benchers—to make full use of the wonderful language that we have been given. I also remind all hon. Members of the very wise words of "Erskine May":
Good temper and moderation are the characteristics of parliamentary language.We should take that to heart.
§ Mr. John Maxton (Glasgow, Cathcart)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. According to The Herald, the Secretary of State for Scotland has challenged my right hon. Friend the Leader of the Opposition to bring his devolution plans before the Scottish Grand Committee. He issued a personal invitation to my right hon. Friend to take the place of my hon. Friend the Member for Hamilton (Mr. Robertson) at this week's Dumfries meeting and face the questions from his own Scottish Members of Parliament. Throwing down the challenge, the Secretary of State said, "Let's hear from the organ grinder, not his monkey."
The Standing Orders relating to the Scottish Grand Committee would not, in fact, allow my right hon. Friend the Leader of the Opposition to attend a meeting of the Scottish Grand Committee as a member, or to speak at such a meeting. Is it not remarkably arrogant of the Secretary of State to consider the Committee that he touts around Scotland to be his private fiefdom, in which he can invite whomever he likes to come along and speak? Will you make it clear, Madam Speaker, that he has no such power, and also that my right hon. Friend could not have attended?
§ Madam Speaker:Order. I think that I can deal with this.
The hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Maxton) has not simply raised a point of order; he has raised a matter of debate, because he has answered the point that he put to me. Standing Order No. 94A lays down that the Scottish Grand Committee shall be made up of
all Members representing Scottish constituencies".979 In addition, Ministers of the Crown who are Members of Parliament but not members of the Grand Committee may take part in its deliberations. Consequently, Members of Parliament who, like the Leader of the Opposition, neither represent Scottish constituencies nor are Ministers of the Crown may not on this occasion take their places in the body of the kirk.
§ Mr. ForsythI am grateful to you, Madam Speaker. The hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Maxton) obviously gave you notice of his point of order. If he had raised it with me, I could have told him that what I actually said was that, if the Leader of the Opposition would like to attend the Scottish Grand Committee, I would be quite prepared to present a proposal to amend the Standing Orders in order to make that possible. Those are the words that I used, and my offer remains open. It is significant that no Opposition Members have taken it up.
§ Madam SpeakerOrder. I will take no more points of order on this matter. I have given a correct ruling, which the House now understands.
§ Mr. Dennis Canavan (Falkirk, West)On a point of order, Madam Speaker.
§ Madam SpeakerIs it an entirely different point of order?
§ Mr. CanavanYes, Madam Speaker. Do you know whether there is any truth in the report that the Secretary 980 of State for Scotland has suggested that the Stone of Destiny should be relocated in Stirling castle, in a last desperate effort to find himself a safe seat?
§ Madam SpeakerWe have an important ten-minute Bill with which to deal, and I have a very bad cough. We must move on.
§ Mr. Barry Field (Isle of Wight)On a point of order, Madam Speaker.
§ Madam SpeakerI will hear it.
§ Mr. FieldDuring Scottish questions, the Secretary of State for Scotland offered to make available files that prove the origin and authenticity of the Stone of Scone. You may have read in yesterday's papers, Madam Speaker, that the Liberal Democrats are calling for the Isle of Wight to be made free of the tax regime and the rule of law applying to this country. There has been an inquiry into the sale of the Isle of Wight to the Crown. Would it be possible for the files to be made available? That would enable us not only to look at the problems of the Isle of Wight, but to welcome the Liberal Democrats' move towards tax cutting and their promise to make the Isle of Wight a tax haven.
§ Madam SpeakerThat is very interesting, but it is also very time-consuming. If the hon. Gentleman needed the answers to his questions, he should have put them to the appropriate Minister. He knows, as I do, that they are not points of order.