Further and Higher Education (Hansard, 27 June 1997)

§ Mr. Ken Livingstone (Brent, East)
I wish to present to the House a petition signed by 7,488 students, on the issue of free education.
The petition reads as follows: The Petition of citizens of the United Kingdom Declares that education must be free if it is to be accessible to all who may benefit from it, and that, in particular, the abolition of student grants, and the closing of the benefit system to those in further and higher education has excluded many from such education who have the academic potential but not the economic ability. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Secretary of State for Education and Employment to address the problem of access to further and higher education as a matter of urgent and high priority. When I look round the Chamber and see so many hon. Members who have benefited from free education, I know that my colleagues at least will wish to ensure that the generations that come after us have the same opportunities.

§ Mr. Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath)
On a point of order, Madam Speaker. In light of the article in The Guardian today written by the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Smith), I wonder whether you 1058 have had a request from the Secretary of State for Wales to make a personal statement to the House. Things have moved on since the discussion at business questions yesterday, in that the hon. Gentleman has made a specific allegation of a breach of parliamentary privilege and has repeated the allegation that Labour is threatening him and abusing his rights as a Member of Parliament. Have you had any indication as to whether the Secretary of State for Wales intends to say whether the Prime Minister did not in fact give an accurate picture to the House when questioned by my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond, Yorks (Mr. Hague) at Prime Minister's questions on Wednesday?

§ Mr. Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley)
Further to that point of order, Madam Speaker. As you know, I wrote to you yesterday on the same matter. It appears that on Wednesday the Prime Minister defended his Secretary of State for Wales against the allegations that he had threatened the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Smith) for his principled stand on the issue of devolution. Is it possible for the Secretary of State for Wales to make a statement to the House? The issue needs clarifying. During yesterday's business questions, hon. Members asked for a debate on the matter, but the request was turned down by the Leader of the House, who said that the Prime Minister considered the issue closed. Do you agree that the matter cannot be closed until it is resolved, and that there are far too many unanswered questions for it to be closed?

§ Mr. Livingstone
Further to that point of order, Madam Speaker. I have made absolutely clear my intention to campaign against the Labour party's position on a mayor for London. I have not been threatened by anyone, and I want to know why some Members are privileged and some are not.

§ Madam Speaker
In answer to the hon. Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans), his letter is under consideration and he will receive a response to it as soon as I have been able to examine it thoroughly.
I have not seen the article in The Guardian, but I shall read it. I have had no indication that a Minister is seeking to make a statement today.