§ Mr. Michael Ancram (Devizes)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. With reference to the point of order raised by my hon. Friend the Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans) on Friday, have you had time to complete your consideration of the letter that he sent you about the behaviour of the Secretary of State for Wales and its implications for the rights of Members of this House?
In particular, as the further public utterances of the Secretary of State and the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Smith) are so contradictory that they cannot both be telling the truth, and given the Prime Minister's categorical assurances to the House last Wednesday, is it not paramount for the reputation of the House and the rights of its Members that the Secretary of State for Wales should make a personal statement to the House at the earliest opportunity?
§ Madam SpeakerI have now seen the letter written to me by the hon. Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans). As the House will understand, I do not divulge details of correspondence between myself and individual Members. I have responded to him today. I have no comment about the particular case that the right hon. Gentleman has raised, as the full facts are not available to me. As a matter of principle, however, I say clearly that freedom of speech is one of the most cherished privileges of parliamentary democracy. I expect Members to exercise that fundamental right at all times to the fullest extent.
§ Mr. Simon Hughes (Southwark, North and Bermondsey)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. Is it appropriate to ask you, about half an hour before the end of British rule in Hong Kong, to express on behalf of the House two thoughts that are probably strongly in the minds of all Members of Parliament—those who have been privileged to go to Hong Kong and those who have not? First, very simply, will you pay tribute to all those who served the Crown and the people of Hong Kong during the past century and a half, including those in the legislative council? Secondly, will you express the hope of this Parliament that the democracy that has been cultivated in Hong Kong will be able to continue from midnight tonight throughout the years ahead?
§ Madam SpeakerI know that the hon. Gentleman recognises that that was not a point of order. But it is a very exceptional day for this country and for Hong Kong, and I appreciate the fact that he has raised the matter with me.
§ Madam SpeakerOrder. I have not yet finished. I am still on my feet.
§ Mr. Dennis Skinner (Bolsover)Manners!
§ Madam SpeakerYes, let us have some courtesy and a few manners.
I say simply that I know that the thoughts of the House are with the people of Hong Kong, particularly today. We certainly wish them success and all happiness in the future.
I should like to pay my own personal tribute to the work of the elected legislative council, which I had the pleasure of visiting a couple of years ago. From this democratic institution, which is often known as the mother of Parliaments, our thoughts go to Hong Kong, as do our best wishes for the future.
§ Mr. Eric Forth (Bromley and Chislehurst)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. You will be aware that, over the weekend, we heard accounts of the failure to declare certain trips and other things by hon. Members who—I think—are now members of the Government. Will you guide me and the House on whether the matters will be looked into automatically by the Commissioner for Standards and Privileges, or whether any further action is required in order for him to consider the very grave matters that emerged in the press over the weekend?
§ Madam SpeakerAs far as I am aware, such matters are not automatically referred to the Commissioner for Standards and Privileges. It is for an hon. Member to refer them. If the right hon. Gentleman wishes to do so, I think that it would be appropriate if they were submitted to the Commissioner for Standards and Privileges.
§ Mr. Simon Burns (Chelmsford, West)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. I seek your guidance in that, during Social Security questions this afternoon, my hon. Friend the Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Mr. Duncan Smith) asked the Minister for Welfare Reform, the right hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field), about an estimated £300 million-worth of taxpayers' money that is expected to be involved in the welfare-to-work programme. The right hon. Gentleman side-stepped the issue, although quite clearly from his body language, he knew exactly what my hon. Friend was talking about. On reflection, has the right hon. Gentleman contacted you with a view either to seek to amend the Official Report or to make a statement to make it clear that he knew exactly what my hon. Friend was talking about concerning the costs?
§ Madam SpeakerThe right hon. Member has not done so. Nor is that a point of order for me. [HON. MEMBERS: "A good try."] It was not even a good try.