§ Mr. Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale, West)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. Was it in order for the Paymaster General to make a statement today on the replacement of the whole regime for saving, replacing the highly successful tax-exempt special savings accounts—TESSAs—and personal equity plans—PEPs—and to choose to do so outside the House? Is it perhaps possible that he is avoiding the Chamber so that he does not have to take questions on other matters which may embarrass him?
§ Madam SpeakerI understand that a Green Paper has been issued. It is perfectly in order for such a statement to be made outside the House. On other matters, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave yesterday.
§ Mr. Charles Kennedy (Ross, Skye and Inverness, West)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. Further to your ruling in response to the application under Standing Order No. 24, may I seek your guidance? Although, understandably, the application was made by the Opposition Front-Bench spokesman on Wales—I notice that the Welsh Office Minister responsible for agriculture is present—many of us on both sides of the House and from all parts of the United Kingdom feel that the issues raised by the events in Wales go much broader and deeper than just what has happened in Wales.
That being so, and while acknowledging that many of the issues predate the present Government and cannot be divorced from the actions, decisions and track record of the Conservatives, all of us who are deeply concerned hope that you, Madam Speaker, might look favourably on an application for a Wednesday morning Adjournment debate, during which matters could be explored much more fully on a cross-party and cross-United Kingdom basis.
§ Madam SpeakerI would look very favourably on such a debate, but I have to tell the hon. Gentleman and the House that I do not select the subjects. That is done by ballot. However, the hon. Gentleman must get his application in tonight.