§ Madam SpeakerI have to notify the House, in accordance with the Royal Assent Act 1967, that the Queen has signified Her Royal Assent to the following Acts:
Registered Establishments (Scotland) Act 1998.
Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) (Amendment) Act 1998
I have been extremely remiss. I was going to allow the hon. Member for South Staffordshire (Sir P. Cormack) to catch my eye at the end of business questions. Will the Leader of the House allow me to call him now?
§ Madam SpeakerIt is my fault; I am so sorry.
§ Sir Patrick Cormack (South Staffordshire)I am extremely grateful to you, Madam Speaker, and to the Leader of the House.
The Leader of the House will have gathered from the comments of her hon. Friends the Members for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) and for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) that concern about recent events is not limited to Opposition Members. When my right hon. Friend the Member for North-West Hampshire (Sir G. Young) asked about the new rules of conduct, the right hon. Lady said that new rules were being drawn up; but my right hon. Friend asked for a debate on those rules. May we have a response to that question? If the right hon. Lady cannot promise a debate before the House rises for the recess at the end of this month, may we at least have an undertaking that the rules will be published, and will be widely available?
Mrs. TaylorI cannot see any prospect of a debate on any improvements that we might make to the rules, which we inherited from the previous Government, in the near future. As for publication, it is currently intended that the same procedures should apply.