§ Mrs. Theresa May (Maidenhead)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. I wish to seek your guidance on a statement that was made by the Minister for School Standards to hon. Members in a Standing Committee, and on the record of that statement. I have informed the Minister of this point of order.
On 18 November, in the Eighth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation debating the Education (Infant Class Sizes) (England) Regulations, I referred to the fact that the regulations had been laid and had come into force during the parliamentary recess, thus ensuring that there could be no debate on them before they came into force. The Minister responded by saying that I should have spoken to Baroness Blatch, as the regulations had been announced on 27 April and discussed in the other place on 5 May. Column 21 of the Official Report of that Standing Committee debate refers to those statements.
I have spoken to Baroness Blatch. She has made inquiries in another place into the matter and I gather that the Minister's statement was false. The regulations were not announced on 27 April and were not discussed in the other place on 5 May. Indeed, I understand that, as the primary legislation was still going through the House, it would not have been possible to discuss the regulations, which were in the form of secondary legislation.
The Minister's comments to the Standing Committee were obviously misleading; I can assume only that she was given incorrect information by her officials. Madam Speaker, I seek your guidance on how the record on the matter can be set straight.
§ Madam SpeakerNeither I nor any occupant of the Chair in Committee can be responsible for the accuracy, or otherwise, of ministerial statements. I refer the hon. Lady to the Order Paper. Perhaps she will find ways of pursuing the matter. I am afraid that, in this instance, I cannot help her. I am not responsible for ministerial statements.