§ Mr. David Heathcoat-Amory (Wells)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. In answer to one of my hon. Friends, the Leader of the House said that we had not selected dividend tax credit abolition as a subject for debate on the Floor in Committee. If she were more familiar with the Bill that she is attempting to ram through the House, she would know that clause 19 deals with that subject and that we asked for it to be debated. In case she misled the House—inadvertently, I am sure—will she take this opportunity to correct herself?
§ The President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mrs. Ann Taylor)Further to that point of order, Madam Speaker. I was asked about advance corporation tax. I was not aware that that was one of the issues on which a debate had been requested. [Hon. MEMBERS: "They are the same thing."] If I was wrong, I apologise, but I thought that ACT and dividend tax credits were two aspects of a different problem.
§ Mr. Peter Viggers (Gosport)Further to that point of order, Madam Speaker. I am the hon. Member who asked the question. I specifically asked about ACT and foreign dividends.
§ Mrs. Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham)On a point of order, Madam Speaker.
§ Madam SpeakerIs it related to the previous matter, which was not a point of order but a point of information? I will take only points of order.
§ Mrs. GillanIt is a point of order of which I gave you notice earlier. It relates to the abuse by the President of the Board of Trade of the Standing Orders of the House. In the 1997 edition, under Standing Order No. 22(4), a Minister is required to give an answer on a named day. Earlier this week, I tabled six simple questions on matters of fact. I received six answers on the board yesterday which read:
I will reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.That is not the spirit of the Standing Orders. When the President of the Board of Trade does not even know fully about the interests of her Ministers, do you agree that when we table questions that ask for answers by a certain date, she should at least have the courtesy to reply in full, rather than fobbing Members off with answers because she finds the answers too difficult to give?
§ Mr. Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington)On a point of order, Madam Speaker.
§ Madam SpeakerOrder. I am on my feet.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursIt is on this matter.
§ Madam SpeakerI am on this matter. The hon. Lady may not like the answers that she has received, but they are in compliance with the Standing Orders of the House.