HC Deb 31 October 1996 vol 284 c794 3.59 pm
Mr. Bernard Jenkin (Colchester, North)

On a point of order, Madam Speaker. It is with regret that I ask you to use the authority of your office to draw the attention of the hon. Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Vaz) to the courtesies of the House. He turned up in my constituency to campaign on a very sensitive local issue without informing me of his visit. This is obviously a tiresome and repetitious point of order, which you must take many times, Madam Speaker. Would it be possible to formalise the rebukes made to hon. Members who abuse that courtesy? We must continue to raise such points of order otherwise hon. Members will transgress with impunity.

Madam Speaker

I deprecate such behaviour. I have let it be known on many occasions that it is simply common courtesy for an hon. Member to inform another hon. Member of his intention to enter his or her constituency—as, indeed, I shall do myself tomorrow. I know that the hon. Member for Colchester, North (Mr. Jenkin) has made representations to the hon. Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Vax), and I shall do what I can through the usual channels on both sides of the House—as I did only a few weeks ago—to keep up the pressure and ensure that courtesies are respected.