§ Mrs. Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. In his statement yesterday on child abuse in Clwyd, the Secretary of State for Wales referred to parliamentary privilege and implied that he did not want further discussion of the matter in Parliament. This morning, Madam Speaker, I conferred with your excellent Clerks and was told that, from this evening, the matter will be sub judice. I appreciate the difficulty of establishing such an inquiry when witnesses are required to give evidence, but I have a copy of the 400-page report and its appendices, and I have read it. I disagree with the Secretary of State's view that it is defamatory. The report should be published. I find it rather odd that, on the day that the report is available in the House, we are to have no further discussion because an inquiry has been established.
§ Madam SpeakerI am grateful to the hon. Lady for giving me notice of her point of order. It is true that I have power to waive the sub judice resolution, but the House will understand that I am unable to do so in the abstract. I can do so only in respect of some specific proceeding—that is, a debate, motion or Question. If the motion that will come before the House this evening is agreed and if I receive a request to waive the sub judice resolution in relation to a specific proceeding, I shall consider the matter at the time.